Chapter 3 – The Rematch at Kizugawaguchi (Part 1)
The six month truce between Honbyo Temple and the Oda clan had ended.
It was Oda Nobuna that made the first move.
Led by the reorganized Gokenin unit, they departed from Gifu Castle, and advanced towards Settsu and Osaka’s Honbyo Temple.
To support Ashikaga Yoshiaki’s march to the capital from Aki, Kai’s Shingen Takeda and Echigo’s Uesugi Kenshin shelved their past grudges for the moment and it was said they had recently cooperated to make an anti-Oda campaign.
Before the pair’s alliance formed, and to make Honbyo Temple quickly surrender, they had no choice but to stop Mori’s advance to the capital by defeating the Murakami navy in a naval battle.
After being stained with the shame of the previous defeat by Mori, in which Nobuna was robbed of her chief retainer, Sagara Yoshiharu, the truce was over.
If they are defeated in battle again, the Oda clan will be ruined.
The whole country was paying attention to the rematch between the Oda Clan and Honbyo Temple.
Kii, Saika’s base.
While Kii is an important region near the capital, it is another world surrounded by majestic mountains and the sea.
The Saika Corps so far had held the natural stronghold called Kii, fought many battles to the east and west as the Sengoku Era’s strongest mercenary group without belonging to any daimyo, and lived freely.
But their only deep friendship is with Osaka’s Honbyo Temple, and previously the Saika corps had sent reinforcements from the sea route to Honbyo Temple and smashed Oda Nobuna.
In the Saika manor was the previous head of Honbyo Temple, Kennya, who had lost her position.
The Saika corps’ leader, Saika Magoichi, greeted Kennya a quick “What’s the matter?”
“My younger sister Kyonya is taking responsibility for beginning the competition to conquer the world with the Oda Clan, and has decided to resolve this with one last decisive battle. Samurai and religious sect. As long as neither falls, this confused world will never become one. Even if the Honbyo Temple is temporarily defeated it won’t fall, as the elder sister I want to survive this dangerous time. And I want to perform the original duty of the sect to hold services to those who have fallen in battle.”
“Is that so? You might finally experience defeat, Kyonya.”
“Yes. Honbyo Temple’s allies are the Saika corps and the Murakami Navy, the strongest on land and water. However, many of the believers no longer want to fight against the Oda clan.”
“Aha. Nobuna and Yoshiharu aren’t hated. When the miracle of the Amano-Iwato opening happened, everyone watched the heavens.”
“Yes. Nobuna-sama unexpectedly showed firsthand a new way to live to the masses who suffer from a life of battles. Already, many of the followers are thinking hard on, 'if I fight and die I can go to Cat Paradise.' Especially the girls.”
“....Paradise, could not be found in that hell. Those two were saved the moment they kissed each other. In reality it was just for that moment....”
While Magoichi was absentmindedly emptying a sake cup, she blinked her eyes.
“Among the followers, love stories have become popular. Although two people are about to die, for just an instant they are able to save each other.”
“A mere moment. It’s heartrending. But if you can’t go to paradise when you die, that story is gloomy throughout.”
“Among the female followers, reading “The Tale of Genji” has become a daily routine.”
“What is that story about? We are country bumpkins and don’t know it.”
“Okay. The story is about the adulterer Hikaru Genji who takes mistresses one after another. Although Hikaru Genji’s had a beloved woman named Murasaki no Ue, a little after he was banished to Suma he eloped with his neighbor Lady Akashi and had a child.”
“Hmm. Akashi? That reminds me of Sagara Yoshiharu, he is now on the Mori side, and was previously trying to assault Akashi. By now he has surely taken a mistress and conceived a child.”
“R, Really.”
“Anyways, if he left the Oda clan, he can come be my husband. Well I guess I don’t have the pettanoko of a young girl. He has become open about the lolicon disease. Even without his memory, he won’t forget being a lolicon. Why is he such a philanderer to that degree, such an irritating guy.”
“Because the followers have likened Sagara Yoshiharu to Hikaru Genji, who will be Sagara Yoshiharu's Akashi no Kimi and Murasaki no Ue is a major battle in Honbyo temple, it has become an uproar.”
“Really. So then it has become another battle. Everyone can no longer hate Oda Nobuna from the bottom of their heart.”
When you are shown such an admirable figure, all the young girls will become like that, Magoichi sighed.
“I also saved Nobuna. We won the war but lost to Nobuna’s caliber. As a loser of a woman, I was defeated by Nobuna. In addition if the Rokkaku arrows killed Nobuna, the reputation of Magoichi’s gun would have plummeted. From that moment, I temporarily had a reason to save that fellow’s life, but in the end I couldn’t bring myself to let Nobuna die.”
Then, Oda Nobuna became too pitiful, it was tragic.
Again I lost to that woman, Magoichi felt annoyed.
“Morale also fell, Magoichi-san changed in the last battle, and as a result many warriors were shot to death by your gun. Everyone who saw that appearance, tasted hell while alive, such a Magoichi-san is wrong, we cried.”
“That’s okay. The battlefield is hell. It isn’t a child’s playground. But, Oda Nobuna made Paradise appear in hell – she is powerful.”
“Kennya-han, rest at the Saika manor for a while. We will go to battle for a time.” Magoichi said in a loud voice as she stood up.
“Even so, you will still go.”
“Yes. I want to win against Oda Nobuna by any means.”
“Now, if Oda Nobuna loses, the wars in the country will not end. Don’t you think so?”
“Still, I want to return this debt. I must overcome that fellow at any cost. There is just one person, the strongest enemy that the Yatagarasu failed to kill. If I don’t bring down that fellow, we will lose our freedom. At this rate, I’ll become toothless.”
“...Magoichi-san is aiming at the strongest. You are destined to fight against Oda Nobuna. A manzai won’t be able to calm your wild spirit.”
“Be patient Kennya-han. I am a woman possessed by the gun.”
“At the very least, merge with Mori.”
“I want to win with my own power. If I accept the help of Mori, I can’t call that a win.”
Kennya could no longer restrain Magoichi.
Magoichi called together the Saika people, and rushed to lead the fleet on the rough seas of Kii.
“Oda Nobuna has come to Settsu again. Before that guy enters Kizugawaguchi, we will grab the port of Sakai.”
It is said that the Oda army is again trying to intercept the Murakami Navy and the Saika people joining with Honbyo Temple.
This time, before attacking Kizugawaguchi, let’s attack Settsu’s largest trading city, Sakai, Magoichi decided.
As long as we don’t suppress Kyoto’s largest trading port and the Oda clan’s base for gun production, the Oda army will be revived no matter how many times they are beaten.
In addition, Sakai is on the sea routes from Kii to Kizugawaguchi.
Attack the merchant city. It was a style Magoichi hated, but even though it was six months from their great defeat, it is said that the Oda clan’s armaments were even better than before. It was a terrifying economic strength and production capacity. The Oda clan’s strength was assuredly supported by Sakai.
“Even if I go back to Honbyo Temple and slay the Oda army time and again, this war will not end. Even if I crush and defeat the Oda clan, they will recover by the power of money. I will open with a surprise attack on Sakai, for the sake of settling this battle.”
The opportunity to directly shoot Oda Nobuna won’t occur again, Magoichi predicted.
Even if Nobuna wants to appear on the front line, if Magoichi joins the battle, her close advisers will prevent it.
It will be hard to settle this by sniping Nobuna.
It put her in a bad mood, but it was a necessary strategy to win.
That Oda army’s largest supply base was a trade city facing the rather than inland – there was no one who wouldn’t take advantage of this.
In addition.
The Oda troops were mass producing some kind of new weapon hidden in Sakai’s port, Magoichi gained this information from a shinobi source.
“There is the gun factory in Sakai as well. Or perhaps they have increased production of the ships they lost in the previous battle with their abundant wealth.”
If we don’t hit Sakai, we can’t win.
Thus, Magoichi’s eyes were fixed on Sakai.
“Magoichi-sama. We should wait until joining with the Murakami Navy before attacking.”
“Lightning tactics, Hotaru. It isn’t a surprise attack if we wait for the Murakami Navy to arrive.”
“The Oda people may have already put up a line of defense around Sakai.”
“Even if that’s true, it will divide their military between Kizugawaguchi and Sakai. It won’t be a problem if it’s half.”
“In the case that the whole Kuki Navy is in Sakai?
“It will become a free-for-all, Nobuna doesn’t know that the Saika folk are pirates as well as a gun troop. Even on board a violently shaking ship, the Saika folk can freely operate their guns. The forces over there don’t have that kind of skill. We will win.”
The Saika folk’s fleet went north straight to Sakai -
But this Sakai, was the “bait” to hunt the tiger called Magoichi.
In terms of strategy, Magoichi was a mere mercenary commander, Oda Nobuna who had torn down countries one after another as a daimyo in the Sengoku Era far exceeded her.
“The Oda forces are concentrated in Honbyo Temple” while Nobuna spread that around, she established a siege around Honbyo Temple, and lead her personal Gokenin into Sakai.
A marching speed fast as the wind.
“The Saika folk’s fleet will advance on Sakai. Spreading the rumor that the Oda clan was developing a new weapon in Sakai has succeeded.”
“Dearuka. Well the story that I am gathering a new weapon isn’t false. Because it isn’t a lie, this rumor became bait to catch the tiger.”
When she heard the information, Nobuna was at Imai Soukyu’s beachfront manor drinking tea with Sen no Rikyuu.
Undaunted, they held a tea ceremony.
The Kampaku Konoe Sakihisa, the wealthy merchant Imai Soukyu, and the missionary Louise Frois had been invited by Nobuna.
“So today, you said you are going to show us some extraordinary something or other.”
“If Sakai becomes a sea of flames we are done, Ohii-sama. The town of Sakai isn't a takoyaki.”
“What more can you show us? Nobuna-sama no longer even needs the teachings of the Lord. When the figures of Yoshiharu-san and Nobuna-sama exchanged a kiss, you were like a God to me – no pretend you didn’t hear that. I would be sentenced to heresy if it was known in Rome.”
Nobuna screamed “UGH” and dropped the tea set which was worth a country or castle without thinking.
Sen no Rikyuu immediately caught the tea set.
“Please don’t talk about kissing that guy! Ugh, to be seen. In this half year I have been patiently developing a new device to hunt the tiger of Sakai! And after hunting the tiger, Kobayakawa Takakage –I will regain him!”
“It is Yoshiharu-san isn't it,” Frois smiled.
“Yes. Even if he has currently lost his memory, Yoshiharu will certainly return to the Oda clan. Because this place is Yoshiharu’s home – therefore we must fight and win. Against Saika Magoichi, the Murakami Navy, and Kobayakawa Takakage.”
“The Ashikaga shogun and the Imagawa shogun, which is the legitimate shogun must also be settled.”
“Yeah. With two shoguns the world’s chaos won’t ever end. Both the Ashikaga shogunate and Honbyo temple must submit to the military power of the Oda clan. Though it seems I showed the whole world a new way to live, we cannot end these wars with love. Power is necessary. Because I was weak, Mori stole Yoshiharu. The person who reigns over the world must show overwhelming military power. It isn’t the Saika corps or the Murakami Navy, but the Oda clan that will prove itself as the strongest army in the Warring States!”
During the six months, she held down her violent passions while doing nothing but enduring and bearing it. Nobuna’s blazing and glittering eyes, “they are terrifyingly beautiful” Frois looked up and stared.
Just looking at them, it’s almost like my own eyes will burn out, dazzling.
Thoroughly defeated in battle, personally suffering a grievous wound, and even being robbed of Yoshiharu after dedicating my passion to that extent.
Despite receiving a wound so severe that an ordinary human being wouldn’t be able to stand up anymore, the present Nobuna, was even stronger and flared up even more furiously.
From the beginning, she didn’t rely on either God or the Buddha, and had a strong will to carve out her own destiny by her own power.
Nobuna, by having her only weak point, her forbidden love with Sagara Yoshiharu, revealed to the whole world, no longer had anything to be afraid of any more.
“The people will probably raise a clamor again if I take Yoshiharu back to the Oda clan, but by winning this battle while flaunting our overwhelming military power, the gossipy bunch will quiet. I will obtain the world and Yoshiharu. So it’s decided.”
It’s impossible to stop her anymore.
Already it felt like a God had descended to the surface, Frois couldn’t help looking at Nobuna with something like awe.
“Ohii-sama, what is the new weapon? You have invested an absurd amount of money, but you haven't told us what the important thing is.”
“That’s right. What on earth is it?”
“I’ve been building it in absolute secret in the Ise port. The Kuki navy is reborn. Soon, it will appear on the sea!”
Nobuna pointed ahead – on Sakai’s bay, a huge jet-black fleet appeared -
An enormous fleet consisting of seven vessels.
About 23 meters in length. About 13 meters in width.
Furthermore, the hull was completely covered in massive thick iron plates, all of the parts including the iron plates were painted black.
Also extending up the length of the turret was jet-black.
Those unusual ships became the fleet, and were calmly floating on the sea.
It was like a sea fortress.
“When I saw Yoshiharu run the Kuki ship aground to become a sufficient fort, I was inspired. Conversely, if I have a fort on the sea that cannot burn I will win. In addition Harima [xxi] was basically thinking the same thing, finished designing it, and it was built in a rush.
Most of the Oda clan’s savings was poured into these ‘Tekkousen’ (Literally Iron Armored Ships)!”
“No way. I haven’t seen this kind of ironclad ship in Europe or the Ottoman Empire!” Frois screamed out in a loud voice.
“An iron-clad ship? Unbelievable. How is such a heavy ship floating on the sea?”
Imai Soukyu tilted his head in confused, and still didn’t understand.
Iron, iron shouldn’t float on the sea, what did you do to build it ohii-sama, he growled while continuing to stuff his mouth with takoyaki.
“Transferring my dream of taking the world to Oda Nobuna was the right choice,” Konoe was convinced.
“Oda Nobuna’s dream of Tenka Fubu, such a large ship is made just for you. Truly, this age of wars may be pacified....”
“Your praise is meaningless, Konoe.”
“Even when you are defeated, you will bounce back, with manly strength. And to create such a fantastic ship....like the Ame-no-Torifune the god of thunder boarded to press Izumo’s Okuninushi into abdicating his region.” [xxii]
“Just a minute. I’m not manly at all! I’m a girl!”
While Nobuna puffed out her cheeks, the tanned brown petite girl strategist with a Namban Hat – Don Simeon Kanbei Kuroda appeared after a long absence, and received a tea set from Rikyuu.
“Without depending on the power of God, win the battle with human power, that is the way of Oda Nobuna.”
Kanbei, who was originally tanned brown in Harima and Hakata, was tanned even more today.
“I have completed the Tekkousen fleet, and returned from Ise harbor. For such a large ship, it was hard to sail without the Mori people suspecting, but Kuki Yoshitaka is as expected. She managed it splendidly.”
“Dearuka. Such a huge iron ship doesn’t exist among the Namban either. How wonderful that it was completed in only half a year. As expected of Harima.”
“Hehehe. It was finished thanks to borrowing the power of the pirate Kuki Yoshitaka who is familiar with ships. Well, the new age to come is the age of man, let’s make our battle known to the whole world.”
Such an unsophisticated girl built that ship, Konoe was amazed.
“Even as a child, you are able to make such a thing.” Frois nodded and wasn’t particularly surprised.
“If you lose and all these ships sink, my store will go bankrupt.” Imai Soukyu frowned.
The peerless genius, Kuroda Kanbei,
“With this I have truly surpassed Takenaka Hanbei! Finally, this Simeon is the greatest strategist!”
While breathing roughly, she quickly drank the green tea handed by Rikyuu.
“Ueh. Bitter! Another cup!”
“Because I can be sniped by Magoichi this time, I can’t boldly board a ship in this battle...doesn’t Harima need to get into a boat? Aren’t you the tactician?”
“It isn’t necessary. A true strategist achieves victory from the front, with a new weapon that is so perfect. Hehehe.”
Nobuna, after seeing Yoshiharu’s clever scheme of beaching a ship to make a sufficient fort, went with the reverse – the secret plan to do the reverse and create a floating fort on the sea which can’t burn to protect against the Murakami Navy’s hourokuyaki [xxiii] Kuroda Kanbei who was recovering in the Arima Onsen had the same flash of inspiration.
Because the pair were comrades as Namban culture lovers and new weapon enthusiasts, their discussions quickly came to this. To beat the other genius Takenaka Hanbei, “With this I’ll win. Besides just winning, it will be possible to show the people that a new era has truly come to Japan. I will unveil this and show off to everybody in Sakai.” And so she got the authorization.
In a hurry to make peace with Honbyo Temple, Kanbei quickly dispatched the Kuki Navy admiral, Kuki Yoshitaka, to the Ise harbor, and successfully build the tekkousen in secret.
Kanbei would draw up blueprints, make a model, and let the pirate, Kuki Yoshitaka, who had experience in handling ships make modifications.
How can a heavy large ship float on the sea, remain stable, and possess a driving force strong enough to be used in war?
For this difficult problem, Kanbei’s knowledge of Namban sciences and Kuki’s experience as a pirate came up with a brilliant answer.
As Kanbei and Kuki Yoshitaka together are the main owners of the taste called “ship lovers”, they work together unexpectedly well, the tekkousen were completed at the last moment just in time for the decisive rematch.
Now, the flagship of the strange tekkousen fleet, the Oniyadomaru, appeared in Sakai’s sea. Takigawa Kazumasu, Kuki Yoshitaka, Nobuna’s sister-in-law Gamo Ujisato, and the knight Giovanna were on board.
“I’m surprised. How could the craftsmen of Zipangu make such a strange thing?”
“I’m also surprised. I can’t believe it is completed and can already be sailed. I absolutely thought it would be too heavy and would sink in the sea.”
“Such a fitting strategy for Nobuna-chan. Without joining with the Murakami Navy, the Saika corps will attack Sakai on their own. This is also thanks to Kuki wonderfully bringing the tekkousen fleet to Sakai in secret.”
“Again Hime-sama. To tell you the truth, I’m embarrassed.~”
“No, it really is a great thing. No matter how perfect the design is, and even if the craftsman makes it splendidly, without a person to operate them these iron armored ships are just iron boxes. Munch munch.”
“If we break apart the Sakai corps and defeat the Murakami Navy, Honbyo Temple will be without reinforcements and have no choice but to surrender. In that case we just need to negotiate with the Mori clan for the return of Sagara Yoshiharu afterwards for a complete victory. Even if he has such a face, Sagara Yoshiharu is older sister’s dream. I will completely win!”
Gamo Ujisato who had created the opportunity for Yoshiharu to leave the Oda Clan, was risking her life on the battle’s rematch for her own ablution.
“I leave the operation of the second hidden weapon to you together with Giovanna-chan.”
“Yes. Leave it to me. Watch, Saika Magoichi and Murakami Takeyoshi. Onii-sama’s trump card isn’t only the iron armored ships.”
“Umu. Oda Nobuna is outrageous, but to actually finish manufacturing the weapon, Kuroda Kanbei is just as terrifying. Such a prodigy isn’t in either Europe of the Ottoman Empire. Another helping of mochi please. Munch munch.”
“Look, Hime-sama! The Saika corps’ fleet! The numbers are larger than last time, it seems like almost all of the Saika corps’ members are participating!”
“In addition, they are fully loaded with arquebuses. We can’t let them land.”
“If the Saika corps’ gun unit lands, Sakai will fall in an instant.”
“However, we who have holed up in this tekkousen fortress, do not have to pretend. Munch Munch. Seconds.”
“Hmm. I am not confused anymore. We will meet the enemy!”
“Everyone to your places! Put up the beacon of the Kuki Navy’s revival!” With Kuki Yoshitaka’s shout, the pirate girls of the Kuki Navy all entered a frenzy at once.
“Even if she rampages, Boss has missed her marriageable age.”
“By all means, we will absolutely win!”
“You guys, don’t talk about my marriageable age!”
The Saika corps’ fleet clashed with the revived Kuki Navy on the sea.
“What is that? A ship of black iron!? Is that the new weapon of Oda Nobuna!?”
“Magoichi-sama, it is a fake.”
“Such a huge iron boat cannot float on the sea.”
The Kuki Navy’s fleet consisting of seven tekkousen lined up in a straight line, and linked together to create a strange long battle formation exposing the side of the ship’s hull, blocking Sakai’s port.
To put such a large thing in front of Sakai, Kuki Yoshitaka ordered. Magoichi was shocked.
“It was mostly expected that the new weapon was a new ship, but I never expected a monster-like ship.”
Magoichi and the Saika corps, although they did pirate work, their strong point was still their guns.
Their steering skills were inferior to Kuki Yoshitaka who led the female pirates to go wild on the rough Toba sea.
“Oda Nobuna, did you circulate the incomplete intelligence on purpose to catch us? This is a trap to hunt our clan.”
“What should we do, Magoichi-sama?”
“Retreat from Sakai, and after joining with the Murakami Navy shift our attack to Kizugawaguchi?”
Magoichi’s animal instincts were saying, “Dangerous. Turn back.” But Magoichi wasn’t an adult that could run with her tail between her legs in front of Oda Nobuna’s unleashed trump card.
Rather, her fighting spirit was boiling – the stronger the enemy, the more Magoichi’s body was fired up.
It wasn’t hatred, but the pure fighting spirit overflowing towards a strong enemy.
She wanted to sink the iron ships sent out by Oda Nobuna at all costs.
“Something so huge will move slowly. They probably lined up their ships in a row while exposing their vulnerable side, because it takes time to set up their battle formation.”
“Yes. Normally the naval strategy is to form a battle formation like expanding crane wings to await an enemy attack.”
So.
Until this day, even if it was the crane wing formation or fish scales formation, pointing the bow of each ship at the enemy in the “vertical formation” was common sense for naval battles.
It was unthinkable to line up the ships in a line exposing the weak flank to the enemy.
“The Saika corps’ fleet doesn’t have the speed of the Murakami Navy, but we have our guns. Arquebus. We’ll close in on the stomach of those huge things at full speed, and let them eat our arquebus on the swaying sea.”
“But can we pierce those think iron plates?”
“Seems that ironclad will defend against being destroyed by the fire of the Murakami navy. That is why that was built. It may be difficult to pierce with the arquebus. However, there is the Yatagarasu. This guy is specially made. If we get close and shoot the general with this guy, it will be our win.”
Magoichi carried the large black gun, the “Yatagarasu”, that nobody else could operate on her shoulder lightly, and ordered an all-out attack.
At this moment, the direction of the wind was favoring the Saika corps.
“Tighten the sails! Before that huge thing finishes pointing the bow to this side, we’ll shoot all our guns at the flank at once! The admiral that commandeers the flagship will be killed by the Yatagarasu!”
“OH!”
All at once the Saika Corps’ fleet aimed at the revealed side of the iron armored ships and rushed in.
While they were shooting at the iron armored fleet from point blank range using their masterful gun skills, Magoichi would kill the Kuki Navy admiral with the Yatagarasu during the confused fight.
In the previous battle of Tennoji, the tactics of certain kill blows was only possible for the goddess of guns, Magoichi Saika.
To be able to use this tactic with the unsteady sea underfoot, Oda Nobuna wouldn’t think of it. However it is possible. Regardless of how stormy the sea is, I won’t miss my mark. Magoichi’s own gun skills, her ability, was the confidence from a gift granted by divine possession.
“If I bring down the leader, the unit will collapse. It isn’t only on land. It is the same even on the sea. No, the morale will collapse even quicker on the sea.”
In a moment, the distance to the iron armored fleet shortened.
Finally, the Saika corps started shooting from on board.
The roaring sounds like the world was ending resounded on the sea.
The first time the roaring sound was on the Uemachi plateau, and the second time on Sakai’s sea.
Oda Nobuna and Saika Magoichi’s second life or death struggle – came to an end.
The Saika townsfolk cramming the roadsides, facing the canal watched breathless.
The iron armored fleet moved slowly.
Magoichi stood calmly on the ship’s prow as bullets flew past her and aimed at the Kuki Navy’s admiral with the Yatagarasu.
“There. The tanned woman in the flagship’s tower, Kuki Yoshitaka. The strained features of an overripe virgin burns. The small miko next to her is her partner Takigawa Kazumasu....so cute, to shoot such an adorable child is so cruel....yes, and we decided to never again fail in gun jobs.”
“Magoichi-sama. I heard Takigawa Kazumasu’s signature move is to dampen her enemy’s fighting spirit with her adorable miko outfit. Two sets, three sets, the gun is loaded.”
“Ahh. Now that I have come close, I have to consider that both armies have together left countless corpses – mercy is useless.”
“‘Hell is certain, in the home’-”
While Magoichi sang a sentence from the sutras to herself, she tried to pull the trigger of the Yatagarasu many times.
But she couldn’t shoot at the childish head of Takigawa Kazumasu no matter what.
The image of scrambling for the ball against Kazumasu during the Namban Soccer Match flitted into her head.
“No good. Of all people. Even such a child is the commander of a whole army. This era is lost.”
Then.
A huge mass of burning iron flew at an incredible speed at the ship Magoichi was riding and split the hull in half.
It was a cannon.
Oda Nobuna equipped the iron armored ships with several huge Namban-style cannons inside, and the cannon gun-ports on the ship’s flank all opened up and the cannons all fired at once.
“What? There are several cannons on the side of the ship? And such huge ammunition is possible!?”
“M, Magoichi-sama! All of the iron armored ships deployed with large numbers of cannons!
“I can’t believe it! The cannon balls are filling the sky!”
“The cannons are being shot one after another, this ship-”
“We are completely a target. If this situation continues we’ll be scattered!”
“It’s hopeless. The Yatagarasu can’t be fired if the ship sinks! We have to gain range!”
When Magoichi jumped off the sinking flagship, the flying cannon balls exploded the surroundings and she switched to the back of the ship.
Escaping with the huge Yatagarasu on her shoulder was an impossible task, but as far as Magoichi was concerned the Yatagarasu was like part of her body.
“Get down everyone! It’s over! The seemingly defenseless column was a battle formation to fire the cannons hidden in the hull! Oda Nobuna set up a double trap! Withdraw for a moment before we are annihilated!”
“It’s useless, Magoichi-sama!”
“The range of the iron armored ship’s cannons are so long it’s unbelievable!”
“Even if we run away and escape, we will be targeted and sunk!”
“The range is longer than the Yatagarasu! Moreover that power is overwhelming! How did you manufacture such a huge gun, Oda Nobuna!?”
That’s right, the only way to defend against the Murakami Navy’s hourokuyaki and the arquebus bullets was to stretch iron across the hull. But rather than merely defend, Oda Nobuna devised the plan to carry the absurd cannons onto the sea for the sake of completely exterminating enemies. In order to load the huge cannons the enormous tekkousen were necessary. Magoichi was shocked by Nobuna’s devilish fighting spirit and realized her whole army was in danger.
If this had been a land war, the Saika Corps’ superior gun skill would have allowed them maintain their battle formation and continue fighting.
That they were weaker in naval battles compared to land wars was the cause of their defeat.
When their boat footholds were sinking, the guns couldn’t be fired.
Besides escaping at full speed out of the area there was no way.
However, even if they escape and run away, the far-reaching range that the cannon balls boast will pursue them.
The Sengoku Era’s strongest mercenary unit, the Saika Corps, tasted their first defeat and was sinking into the sea.
Magoichi clung to a thin plank with the Yatagarasu on her shoulder as she floated on the sea.
If she had discarded the Yatagarasu, it would have been possible to switch to a different ship and escape.
But, Magoichi sent her close aides Hotaru and Kosuzume on a ship, and chose the path of sharing her destiny with the Yatagarasu.
The destruction of the Saika clan’s fleet – no it already wasn’t a fleet anymore - Magoichi could only stare dumbfounded as a wave engulfed her.
“....Oda Nobuna ambitions in advocating Tenka Fubu, did this much.
This much....”
Why was I defeated?
The water was suddenly sapping Magoichi’s body temperature.
As her consciousness faded away, Magoichi was thinking hard on why she lost to Oda Nobuna.
While we were fascinated by the Namban guns, Oda Nobuna created her own original powerful weapons – that was the difference. While we were obsessed with the gun, and united with the gun, the Oda Nobuna that lost to our guns continued to look further into the future of the gun.
What genius. Is she a god or devil?
That Nobuna had a different caliber as a commander then myself, I already understood that when I failed to kill Nobuna in Tennoji.
But Magoichi who wanted to be the strongest free spirit, couldn’t help fighting the huge existence called Oda Nobuna.
But, to dream of such a ship and cannon, you can really build something like that? By some fortune, such an empty dream is possible?
She couldn’t preserve her consciousness anymore.
For my childish pride, I let many of my comrades get killed in action. Kennya, I’m sorry.
…
Before long, in her intermittent consciousness, Magoichi became aware that her body was being brought onto land.
Wearing a velvet cloak and a Namban hat over her eyes, the Princess Knight looked down at Magoichi.
Dazzling.
Dazzling, it was as if staring directly at the sun, the owner of those fiery eyes.
“The Knight Giovanna and Leon spoke of the legend of the fall of the impregnable Constantinople by the ‘Orban Cannon’. I let Harima produce a prototype based on the Franchi cannons Giovanna brought in that were loaded on the Namban ships, and mass-produced it in Omi’s Kunimoto village. To win against a monster like the Yatagarasu, my only choice was to use a monster even greater than the Yatagarasu right? Giovanna and Leon operated the hard to handle cannons perfectly.”
“I don’t understand what you are saying, I’m not good with Namban language, speak in Japanese,” Magoichi was frustrated.
“In the siege of Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire blockaded the strait with a large fleet inside the bay, and it is said they used clever scheme to carry it to the bay using a land route. I used Giovanna’s advice and did the reverse. By building a huge ship that won’t sink while carrying the cannon, the huge Orban Cannon can float on the sea. If this was a land war, it wouldn’t be successful. The cause of your defeat was that you thought like a schemer, and tried to seize Sakai and sever the Oda army’s supply. You should have left such a clever strategy to Kobayakawa Takakage.”
She is considerably angry that Kobayakawa Takakage stole Sagara Yoshiharu, that spirit would have been sufficient to end the war with Honbyo Temple last time, Magoichi realized.
“The reason you lost to me today is because I was not furious in the last battle. In Tennoji, after Kyonya recklessly gathered the followers and began the thoughtless war, you were angry at the assassin that tried to assassinate Kennya who went to Honbyo Temple as an envoy of peace. Even if your gun arm is possessed by god, you have to have anger to kill in this turbulent period. Even though you should have been able to kill Sakon without question, you hesitated to kill a child, failed to shoot, and revealed your original nature. So, when Kennya left for the Saika manor she took away your ability to get angry, and I have won.”
“.....Is that so? We are, angry in these chaotic times....”
Magoichi finally realized. So Oda Nobuna was the hero that had manifested out of the anger at the chaotic times that will not end, and set her eyes on the new power that came from the Nambans called the arquebus. To that extent, we are the same. However this fellow differed from us, and was aware of her anger. Aware of it, she made it her own power-
“To set such a child as the commander. You didn’t think I would mercilessly shoot Takigawa Kazumasu?”
“Saika Magoichi. You are not such a person. I had faith in you.”
“....”
“After this I will shatter the Murakami Navy and force Honbyo Temple to surrender. I have no reason to fight with you anymore.”
It is our loss, Oda Nobuna, Magoichi muttered with a bitter smile.
“Why did you commit a double suicide with the Yatagarasu? Although it would have been good for you to be a drowned body, I helped you. Here, I have paid back the debt from the time when the Amano-Iwato opened. Even if I beat you on the sea, this isn’t a true victory. Saika Magoichi. I picked up a group of the Saika corps that fell into the sea, gather up the luggage and go back to the Saika manor,” the Princess Knight with eyes that blazed like the sun said curtly.
“Stop. If you release us, I will attack you again. Even though I know you are so much stronger. There is no reason. To the end, I have such a troublesome nature.”
Nobuna laughed fearlessly.
“Dearuka. At that time, I will crush you again. This time, on the land.”
This fool blazes like us, and is even more of a fool than rumored, Magoichi thought.
Oda Nobuna, revived.
The Kuki Navy destroyed the Saika corps with tekkousen equipped with unparalleled cannons.
“This became remarkable.”
“That invincible Magoichi-han, was suppressed by military force.”
“Even if it’s a war on the sea, they won’t be stopped.”
“Finally the world is Oda Nobuna-han’s.”
“Even without the man from the future, Sagara Yoshiharu, the Oda clan is the strongest.”
“As before the Oda clan will rise and take the world with Oda Nobuna-han’s own power.”
While the excited townsfolk of Sakai let out a huge cheer, Nobuna personally boarded the flagship of the iron armored fleet, the Oniyadomaru.
“Hurry to Kizugawaguchi! The Murakami Navy is drawing near!”
She gave the departure order and the one by one the sails were hoisted.
If Magoichi’s arrival in Sakai was late by a few days, Nobuna could no longer defend Sakai and Kizugawaguchi at the same time, and her popularity would have taken a serious blow.
It was a dangerous gamble, but it wasn’t a coincidence. Nobuna fully understood Magoichi’s nature and moved to win.
“Kobayakawa Takakage senses the danger of the Saika corps’ absence, and is advancing the Murakami Navy at a godlike speed. Although the tekkousens’ speed is slow, we can get there in time somehow! The enemy’s whole army is six hundred ships. The tekkousen are too big to enter the river. If they enter Kizugawaguchi first it will be troublesome!”
To Takigawa Kazumasu and Kuki Yoshitaka whose spirits had risen after obtaining the huge victory, Nobuna climbed up the tower with mochi gathered from Ise.
“I understand the arrangement Nobuna-chan. You can leave the steering of the iron armored ships to Kuki.”
“Leave it to me! Including this new “Oniyadomaru”, I can freely move the iron armored fleet at will now!”
“...it was extremely terrible daily special training.”
“Yes....that time when we were swallowed by the stormy Kumonada, I thought we were dead....”
“Both of you, this is a great thing. A tea whisk for Sakon. For the one who is too late to get married, I’ll give a small gold reward!”
“I’m not truly too late to get married? Argh, I am still young!”
“Then I will give you a husband for a reward. Who would be good? My Gokenin are all girls...”
“A husband shouldn’t be treated as such a thing! A wedding shouldn’t be given until after falling in passionate love from a fateful encounter.”
“Even if you have already missed your chance to be married?”
“A tea whisk is too stingy, Nobuna-chan! A tea set! Why won’t you give me a tea set! Unless you give me a tea set I’m going to rebel!”
“Dearuka. Do as you say. Also to Leon and Giovanna who worked as cannon instructors, I want to give you your desired reward.”
“Why do I get a tea whisk while the other two get their 'desired reward'?”
Leon, also known as Gamo Ujisato, crawled onto the deck with the knight Giovanna, and had become covered in black soot.
“Onee-sama. As for me I desire the “Izumo Fudoki”, a rare book concerning Izumo.”
“Leon is as refined as ever.”
“Yes. About the mystery of the Amano-Iwato, I want to investigate a little. What is the theory to open it, it is possible there is a key in Izumo that was ruled by Okuninushi’s independent dynasty. It may be possible to open the Amano Iwato again.”
“The Amano-Iwato? You intend to open it again? Sending Yoshiharu away?”
“I understand, onee-sama. But now that the power of Onmyoji has disappeared, I think that the Amano Iwato that was left as the country’s last miracle could be useful!”
“...I don’t intend to depend on the power of God anymore. Oh well. The older sister will give it if it satisfies the younger sister’s curiosity.”
“Thank you very much onee-sama! You are so kind...ah....happiness?”
“If Yoshiharu is having an affair with Kobayakawa, it is good to open the Amano Iwato and drop him alive into hell!”
“Yes that is true. There is also that sort of use, onee-sama.”
While her stomach made a Guuuuu noise, Giovanna cleared her throat unnaturally.
“Ahem. I am fine with receiving food. Let’s agree on a century worth of Yatsuhashi cracknels.”
“How much do you eat? I’ll distribute it for three years.”
“I should have my desired reward. I thought of the plan to carry the cannons on board.”
Oh, where is the strategist Kuroda Kanbei? Kazumasu realized.
“She designed this tekkousen and cannon. In spite of being a child, such an unthinkable genius. She should be thanked for this huge victory.”
“Aren’t you also a child Sakon? Harima was assigned the mission to escort my Gokenin unit to Sumiyoshi through the land route.”
“Sumiyoshi?”
“An old port town just south of Kizugawaguchi. As the Tennoji fort was too far from the sea, I built a new stronghold in the Sumiyoshi harbor. By deploying this tekkousen fleet along the coast from Sumiyoshi to Kizugawaguchi, the cannons will rout the Murakami Navy. Magoichi has already left, and at last I’m personally aboard the flagship!”
The tekkousen fleet rushed to Sumiyoshi at full speed.
On the other side, when she heard the messenger say, “the Saika corps attacked Sakai where the Oda clan was building a new weapon”, Kobayakawa Takakage’s decision was to have all of the Murakami Navy’s six hundred ships depart immediately, and attempt to arrive in Kizugawaguchi at warp speed.
“Damn. Because Yoshiharu taught the anti-Oda Nobuna plan to us in secret, Magoichi Saika didn’t know about the Oda army’s iron armored warships and strange cannons, and was tempted by the bait called Sakai. They have probably already lost.”
“Kobayakawa-san. Even though I have never met her, if it’s the legendary Saika Magoichi she will not die even if she loses the battle. Though it is bad for Magoichi-san, instead the Oda clan will believe they have the momentum and can win against the Murakami Navy. But I have created secret countermeasures that the Oda people are not aware of.”
“True, it is as Yoshiharu says. If it is a long distance, they will learn of our plan. I must confront the Oda on the sea immediately, or we will miss our chance at winning.”
On the deck of the ship, three people, Kobayakawa Takakage, Sagara Yoshiharu, and Murakami Takeyoshi, stared in the direction of Settsu’s shore through a telescope.
“Ojou, I see it! Ohh, yeahhhhhh! In front of Sumiyoshi’s harbor, there is a group of Oda’s huge black ships lined up in a column!”
“Oh, is that, a ship? How can such a huge lump of iron float in the sea? Even though we were informed in advance by Yoshiharu, it is suddenly unbelievable. Moreover, that strange formation.”
As expected. The battle formation to fire a volley from the cannons installed in the flank of the tekkousen is the “Single column”, Yoshiharu slapped his knee.
“Boy. Normally, exposing the flank of the ship to the enemy would be considered a poor plan. In particular, when going against our Murakami Navy’s superior fire charge.”
“That would be the story with a ship without cannons? The times have changed, old man.”
“Grumble. But Sagara Yoshiharu, now it is not a lie that you came from the future! Such a crazy thing, it can’t even be imagined by people of this era.”
“No. The Princess Knight called Oda Nobuna was able to actually make these iron armored ships. Oda Nobuna, I now understand that it seems like she is the owner of an imagination equal to the supreme ruler of the Warring States, Oda Nobunaga.”
“Does that mean she is the possessor of a mind equal to that of the man from the future? A difficult enemy.”
Technology had not caught up with Oda Nobuna’s crazy thinking – that is what you would normally think, but I have heard there are many talented Nambans in the Oda Clan. And for Harima’s Namban tactician, Kuroda Kanbei, she may be able to make the impossible possible. Kuroda Kanbei is probably the iron armored ships’ designer, the idea of the column battle formation to display the full power of the cannons is also Kanbei’s, Takakage guessed.
Takakage and Kanbei were friends, and in some ways, had an extremely deep relationship.
During the time I was worrying endlessly, Kanbei became famous around the country, Takakage acknowledged Kanbei’s abnormal talent.
“If you set the cannons on the bow, only one can be loaded per ship. But if you put them on the side, you can load several cannons on one ship. That way, it improves the firepower overwhelmingly – did they devise this new formation for the sake of the firepower? If it is the common sense of battle, the previous formation, this battle formation reflects the existing battle formation.....”
Of course, it was also shocking that Kuki Yoshitaka and the pirate folks were able to learn the steering technique and manipulate such an unparalleled ship.
The Kuki navy’s female pirates were able to increase their skill tremendously from the last battle.
“Takeyoshi. As Yoshiharu said, the whole boat is covered in black iron. Extraordinarily large iron armored ships, seven ships. And dozens of cannon gun ports. The Saika corps has already been routed. Neither the Murakami Navy’s specialty hourokuyaki or fire arrows will be effective. It won’t be burned by any means. The iron armored ships will suppress the Murakami Navy’s fire tactics. Besides, it has the absurd cannon hidden in its hull.”
“It seems so, Ojou. However that boy Sagara has already seen through Oda Nobuna’s plans. Men, the time to change the disgusting history where the Murakami Navy is defeated by the Kuki Navy has come!”
““““OOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!””””
“Everyone, I’m sorry. If we win this battle, the Oda clan will have no choice but to withdraw to the Capital. Once again, lend your power to me.”
While the Murakami Navy’s fleet piled up in a long line formation, they charged the tekkousen fleet in a parallel course opposite of them.
In other words, the Murakami Navy’s fleet also formed a column, they then advanced at full speed in a straight line to the head of the iron armored fleet, the Kuki’s flagship the Oniyadomaru.
Nobuna who had gotten ready for battle by climbing the tower of the flagship Oniyadomaru with Takigawa Kazumasu and Kuki Yoshitaka, knitted her eyebrows in surprise and lost time hesitating.
“They didn’t step into the trap on our exposed flank! No way, they intend to crash directly into the front?”
“It is unexpected that we would crash into each others columns. A cannon wasn’t set in the bow, it will be hard shoot accurately.”
“Nobuna-chan. It is possible, that Yoshi who came from the future bestowed his knowledge to Kobayakawa. That the Oda army would invest in iron armored ships and cannons to oppose the Murakami Navy’s hourokuyaki.”
“I think it is as Hime says. Thus the Murakami Navy might not charge at the flank like the Saika corps did.”
“Yoshiharu!?”
Nobuna checked the whole Murakami Navy through her telescope.
No, already the other side was at a range where a telescope was unnecessary, and the two sides were drawing closer.
The source of the Murakami Navy’s respected mobility was the medium sized Sekifune. They accounted for 70% of the fleet.
The Seikfune formed the core of the column formation, dotted around the Sekifune were small Hayafune to help the Sekifune, and then at the center of the formation there were six large Atakebune ships stretched lengthwise – among the six ships, one of them was the Murakami Navy’s flagship.
“All of the Atakebune are hoisting the Murakami Navy’s well-known “Circled ?”, only one ship has the ‘Migi Mitsudomoe [xxiv] ’ -the flag depicting the Kobayakawa clan’s family crest. That is the flagship.”
“Hime-sama. Nobuna-sama. I see it. “Migi Mitsudomoe”, the Princess Knight on the deck-”
“That figure. Short trimmed hair, a slender body, and a cold gaze. I have heard the rumors of Kobayakawa. No doubt. Sink the flagship Kobayakawa is riding. If you sink the general’s ship, the fleet of six hundred ships will lose control!”
Even when an unexpected situation was before her, Nobuna would not stop.
No matter the time, when war was before her her eyes would harden, and it would lead to the enemy's defeat.
Even when it appeared I had the perfect preparations, Kobayakawa took the initiative again, but the power of the iron armored ships and cannons are overwhelming.
Even if there was six hundred boats versus seven ships, the power difference was still like that between an ant and an elephant.
“All ships prepare for bombardment!”
Nobuna shouted a command and both navies clashed.
The “Rematch of Kizugawaguchi”. Or the naval battle’s conclusion will be handed down as the “The Second battle of Kizugawaguchi”.
With Nobuna riding the flagship, the “Oniyadomaru”, the seven iron armored ships of the Kuki navy took up position as if it was a train on the rails. The Murakami Navy’s fleet of six hundred small boats took up position in a line and collided head on with the iron armored troop – the flagship which bore Kobayakawa’s emblem, the “Migi Mitsudomoe”, was located right in the center of the line.
The distance between each of the lead ships decreased as they approached, and just when it seemed like they would collide.
While being jolted by the waves, Kobayakawa Takakage looked at the huge iron armored ships without changing her expression, and calmly raised her right hand.
“Hard port. Before the enemy leader can counter, form a wall with the 600 ships of the fleet and pin down the Oniyadomaru.”
“Hard port fellows!” Murakami Takeyoshi yelled.
Right in front of the iron armored fleet, the Murakami Navy’s fleet changed course – turned perpendicular in front of enemy, extending in a line ahead of the iron armored fleet, taking a form to block the course of iron armored ship fleet.
To succeed against the unreasonable intellect of the enemy, the battle formation of the two navies became the form of “?” character.
“?” is the Murakami Navy, “?”is the Kuki Navy’s iron armored fleet.
While the heavy iron armored fleet was slow, the Murakami Navy’s ships were light and fast.
The speed difference between them was their only hope.
Yoshiharu who was shivering nervously next to Kobayakawa Takakage let his voice leak out.
“If the ‘T strategy’ fails, we’ll be annihilated. We only have a few hours to counter their leader. How long will Oda Nobuna hesitate? To maintain the T shape, how many of our ally’s ships will be sunk by the iron armored ship’s cannons-”
Though I personally suggested this, and this is the only way for the Murakami Navy to win against the invincible iron armored fleet, however it is too dangerous and the sacrifice is too large....the trembling of Yoshiharu’s body wouldn’t stop.
Kobayakawa Takakage who competes for the world as the effective prime minister of the Mori Clan. The determination to protect this girl, it is so heavy, and such a severe thing, he finally realized.
“Kobayakawa-san. It is impossible to completely defeat all seven ships. But if you sink the lead ship, the Oniyadomaru, Oda Nobunaga....no, you’ll defeat the general called Oda Nobuna and win. To accomplish the miracle, assume the T shape to catch the head of the iron armored fleet the Oniyadomaru, and then there is no choice but to make a concentrated attack on the Oniyadomaru with all of the warships lined up. If the Oniyadomaru wasn’t in the front, this plan would be suicidal, but it seems our gamble succeeded.”
“Yoshiharu. It is as you said. If the Princess Knight Oda Nobuna was equal to the hero Oda Nobunaga, she would certainly lead with the flagship. Everything so far has followed your predictions.”
“The other reason is that it is likely easier to command the single column with the flagship in the lead. But I wonder if we can win against such a huge fleet with Japanese-style ships made of wood. Even if we win, how many victims will be lost on both sides? Kobayakawa-san, my reckless plan may take away your precious people as well as a large number of soldiers and pirates.”
Takakage quietly grasped Yoshiharu’s hand.
“I was able to meet you. Everyone entrusted their life to you. The outcome will be luck this time. No matter what sort of conclusion we meet, I won’t regret it.”
At this time, Takeyoshi who was behind the couple laughed, “Maybe it would be better if I wasn’t here.” He was personally rowing the oars and completely focused on turning at full speed.
“Boy. The T shaped strategy of turning in front of the enemy and revealing our defenseless flank, I wouldn’t dare think of it. But, after the theory was explained step by step, this is the only way to break the iron monster. Preparing the T-shape by turning the head of the ships in front of the enemy, it’s a high-stakes attack on the flagship that sticks out at the head of the enemy line before all of the warships can rearrange their battle formation. There is little time. An all or nothing match.”
“I didn’t think up the T-shaped strategy. I’m just a high school student. I don’t have that sort of knowledge, talent, or experience. The theory is the originator of the T-shaped tactics in the Sengoku Era, was the veterans who boast combat experience as pirates of the Murakami Navy, Murakami-san.”
“Huh? Us? What’s going on?”
In the masterpiece about modern battles, SLG’s “Admiral’s Decision, Meiji Volume” the T tactics were talked about in this way. The combined fleet lead by Togo Heihachirou, fought the Russian Baltic fleet to decide the fate of the nation in a naval battle on the Sea of Japan. A navy staff officer from Iyo, Akiyama Saneyuki, read the strategy books left behind by old Warring States Murakami Navy, and devised the “T strategy.” And he used the Murakami Navy’s tactics in a modern battle, and won against the Baltic fleet.”
“No, wait a moment boy. I don’t remember writing the T strategy and the like in a strategy book?”
“Well, I guess you can write it now. In fact, aren’t you executing it now?”
“Is that so? That’s right. Wait, wait! That shouldn't be it. Isn’t this the strategy you just suggested? Yeah, I don’t understand anymore.”
“Come. Its flying, Yoshiharu.”
Takakage squinted and looked up to the sky.
The cannonball and arabesques bullets.
They were shot from the iron armored fleet lined up behind the Oniyadomaru.
It was a force that seemed like it was covering the sky.
“The enemy is also only aiming at this flagship. The numbers of the Murakami Navy are becoming a hindrance. Therefore the general, in other words Oda Nobuna, predicted that she will win if she takes me out, Yoshiharu.”
“Even so, that is within my and Kobayakawa-san’s calculations. Sink the Oniyadomaru first. Until then, I’ll try to support you.”
While holding Kobayakawa’s shoulder, Yoshiharu shouted.
“To accurately shoot the cannons installed in the side of the ship at a forward enemy, the iron armored ship column has to break its line and show its flank. But, it takes time for the slow and heavy iron armored fleet to change their battle formation, the Kuki Navy put all their effort into practicing the new column plan. They are sure to be unprepared for different formations. While the other side is taking time to turn, the Murakami Navy that excels at mobility can move and complete the T wall and sink the Oniyadomaru!”
But, “The T tactics requires us to turn in front of the enemy” the iron armored fleet may deal with the scheme by responding with a new clever scheme, Yoshiharu and Takakage were looking farther into the future.
Oda Nobuna – to be precise it was Kuki Yoshitaka who first noticed, “While turning at full speed, the enemy is completely defenseless”. She immediately made a judgment, and ordered the Oniyadomaru at the head of the column formation to aim at the Murakami Navy’s flagship, the Atakebune that flew Kobayakawa’s “Migi Mitsudomoe” flag.
Because the prow was facing the enemy fleet it was difficult to shoot accurately, nonetheless the iron armored ship was proud of its strong firepower. Before it finished turning around, they will use this tremendous firepower to sink the Murakami Navy’s flagship that Kobayakawa Takakage was riding, Nobuna’s target narrowed down to this point in an instant.
“What is that? That ridiculously large bullet! What kind of person is Oda Nobuna, boy!?”
“Its destructive power is too huge! Damn. Even if the line of fire misses the flagship, the bullet that missed will blow away our ally ships one by one!”
“Formidable. Certainly this is hell! Before we finish turning, we might be torn asunder and completely destroyed, boy!”
The iron armored ships fired and showed off its excessive destructive power.
The explosive sound, the gigantic sea spray like a tsunami, black smoke, everything gave off a strange feeling that seemed like it wasn’t from the real world.
The pirates who lived with a small threshold between life and death, with hell below a single thin plank, turned pale.
“While we are forcibly bending their course, we can’t do anything.”
“You are done for if you are that monster’s target!”
“First off, the iron stretched over the ship means we can’t use our hourokuyaki, because it cannot burn. This is it...”
“It was advantageous for us, against the Sue army in Itsukushima.”
By defeating the Saika corps on the sea, that fellow Oda Nobuna makes us pirates of the Murakami Navy tremble, this fellow is an outrageous woman, Takeyoshi was astonished.
This Princess Knight who was covered with blood and injured so badly that you couldn’t bear to look at her at the opening of the Amano-Iwato. In spite of the boy she loved to such an extent changing sides to the Mori, she charges towards Tenka Fubu without regard, transforming herself, and became rather thrilling.
“She is a great woman. In just six months, she became strong like a different person!”
Takeyoshi scolded the pirates that were starting to waver.
“You all, I believe in Ojou! So, I believe in the boy Ojou believes in! Guys, show your guts! Clench your teeth and defend your post for Miss until the end, if you are a man then endure!”
“...Please support me everyone....sorry...”
Takakage linked the fingers of both hands in order to pray, praying for the pirates whose ships were being sunk one by one.
It’s still hard for Kobayakawa-san to watch people die in battle, what a gentle child, Yoshiharu realized again.
We must win at any cost.
If we lose this battle, Kobayakawa-san’s heart -
We finished turning the prow, switch to attacking, Takeyoshi shouted.
“Guys, show the results of your training! One target! The flagship at the head of the enemy fleet! The Oniyadomaru is just one ship! There is little time left, hurry!”
The Oniyadomaru at the head of the column formation found itself facing the Murakami Navy’s large fleet that changed to a T formation.
The Atakebune of the “Migi Mitsudomoe” was located in the center of the fleet.
“Such absurd tactics, it’s impossible, and yet the pirates are turning all at once while keeping their order!”
“As one would expect of Japan’s strongest pirates.” Nobuna clicked her tongue while standing on the top floor of the black tower watching the progress of the battle with blazing eyes.
“Cannons, guns, fire arrows, aim at the “Migi Mitsudomoe” and fire them all! Aim only at Kobayakawa Takakage!”
Although the iron armored ship and the Atakebune were both flagships, the difference in size, weight, and defense was equal to that of an infant and an adult.
“The weight of the hourokuyaki keeps them from reaching the deck of the iron armored ships. And since the hourokuyaki can’t reach the deck they are blocked by the iron armored hull. This is the reason why the iron armored ships boast such a height.”
Now that the Murakami Navy’s specialty hourokuyaki and suicide charges with fire ships were now made completely powerless by the absurdly tall tekkousen and the thick iron armor, the Murakami Navy only earned some time before being destroyed with their strange T strategy, Nobuna believed.
“However, Kobayakawa’s flagship is the center of the T, right in front of the Oniyadomaru. It’s the location most difficult to aim at for the cannons deployed on the sides of the ship, Nobuna-sama.”
“The guys in the T, they surely predicted that we would take up column formation. In that case, Sagara Yoshiharu is the enemy’s strategist.” Kuki Yoshitaka said. Nobuna blinked her eyes as she repressed her feelings for Yoshiharu.
If I don’t win this fight in front of us, it will be impossible to regain Yoshiharu.
“Although the enemy is focusing on the Oniyadomaru, they don’t have the power to sink the Oniyadomaru. If we had equipped the bow with a cannon, they would be easy to kick about – the thought that we could win by making a column and shooting a volley was too sweet. But I’ll hit you some way or another.”
“Nobuna-chan. Something flew from the enemy fleet!”
“Sakon, it’s worthless. The thick iron armor stretch around the hull of the Oniyadomaru will block the fire of the hourokuyaki. It is impossible to burn the iron armored ships.”
Nobuna was not shaken.
But what the Murakami Navy fleet threw wasn’t hourokuyaki.
“It’s a stone!”
“They are bundling up small stones and throwing them at the armor one after another?”
“Six hundred ships all threw stones at the same time. Moreover, they are only aiming at the prow of the Oniyadomaru.”
“What stones?”
A large number of stones sailed through the air and continued to strike the bow of the Oniyadomaru.
“What are they planning? Such a tiny possibility that these small stones can sink the iron armored ships.”
“Nobuna-chan! The stones that hit the armor, they are stuck and aren’t falling!”
“They aren’t falling? That’s impossible.”
“This is a magnet!”
“The magnets will stick to the iron? Are these used in compasses?”
All at once, innumerable magnets covered the prow of the Oniyadomaru.
Kuroda Kanbei who reigned over Namban science wracked her whole brain with all her might, only barely managed to get the huge iron armored ships to float with a last minute calculation. When the side of the prow was receiving magnets one after another, it was beginning to throw off its balance.
“Not good! The hull is slanting! No way! With such a tiny thing....”
“Nobuna-chan, the dust is also accumulating. Magnets are barely mined in Japan. How did they gather so many?”
“Even if all the magnets coming from Hakata were collected it wouldn’t be enough! To begin with, it’s impossible to come up with this plan if you don’t know that we were building the iron armored ships!”
“Everyone, shake off the magnets sticking to the armor!”
“It’s useless boss. We can’t keep up!”
“New magnets are flying before we can brush them off...”
“Then, throw away the baggage in the ship’s bottom with the usual method! If we only throw away the baggage near the bow, the ship will stabilize!”
“That is not possible!”
“In the bottom of the iron armored ship, something like baggage practically hasn’t been loaded!”
“The space under this deck is occupied with the cannon and gun stations!”
“Yes. Because we loaded the cannon, we didn’t store extra baggage!”
“Uwaa! You’re right!” Kuki Yoshitaka tore at her hair.
“It’s unavoidable, dump some of the cannons located near the bow!”
“That’s impossible, they are too heavy to lift!”
“Even if it could be lifted, it would be necessary to break a large hole in the ship wall and it would be a huge loss to lose the cannon...”
“In that case, water would enter the whole and we would sink!”
Nobuna stood in an imposing stance as the tower began to tilt significantly, and clicked her tongue while staring at the Murakami Navy’s large fleet deployed in front of her.
I lost – impossible, not to a magnet. The iron armored ship which combined the quintessence of the new Namban science, will sink because of tiny stones.
This exceedingly absurd tekkousen was built at top speed. They weren’t able to come up with countermeasures in case the hull tilted and this ship that was loaded with cannons and had iron attached to it was at its limits trying to float.
“It isn’t Kobayakawa Takakage that came up such a monkey-like plan. It’s Yoshiharu. That time when Hanbei Takenaka trapped the Oda forces in the Stone Sentinel Maze, Yoshiharu, without even trying to look for the exit to the maze, destroyed the stone formations and erased the maze itself. In the first place, a human being that knew that iron armored warships were being released wouldn’t be able to think up anti-armor measures.”
Kazumasu stood next to Nobuna and suppressed her emotions by biting her lips. “By all rights, this tekkousen fleet can’t be defeated by the Murakami navy. Yoshi is probably trying to change the future personally,” she murmured unconsciously.
“Nobuna-chan. Even if he loses his memory, Yoshi is Yoshi. After all that guy is the incomparable womanizer. In order to protect Kobayakawa Takakage, he won’t hesitate to change the future.
“Yeah. He is that kind of guy. Yoshiharu already....won’t come back.”
“Do you seriously believe that?” Kazumasu asked while jumping onto Nobuna’s shoulder, and putting her hand on Nobuna’s forehead.
“...No, I won’t have that.”
Nobuna’s heart that had nearly broken, flared up again with these words.
“Even if the partner the present Yoshiharu met first in this world is Kobayakawa Takakage, Yoshiharu really met me first! He promised me when he pledged himself, that guy will remain in this world until my dreams come true! I will never let him say he forgot it! Never! There is no way that he can completely forget it!”
After screaming that, Nobuna said “damn” and closed her mouth.
Kuki Yoshitaka who was leading the hopeless work of shaking off all of the magnets sticking to the prow one after another fell into a depression. “I’m jealous, I want that kind of burning love.”
Truthfully, the first Princess Knight Yoshiharu met in the Sengoku Era was actually Yoshimoto Imagawa, but Nobuna didn’t know that. Further, Yoshiharu first signed a master and servant contract with Hachisuka Goemon, but this also wasn’t known to Nobuna. If she had known, she might have done something to those two in her jealousy.
“Ah. What did you make me say, Sakon!? Aren’t we in the middle of a battle now!?”
“Hoho. Still. In the end Nobuna-chan won’t give up Yoshi. Before the Oniyadomaru sinks, we’ll win if we sink the Atakebune that Kobayakawa is on!”
Slowly the tekkousen fleet that had formed a single column formation began to break apart.
Somehow a cannonball can hit the Atakebune with the “Migi Mitsudomoe”.
All though the speed was as slow as a turtle, the cannons of the iron armored fleet were beginning get an angle to aim and fire at the Atakebune with the “Migi Mitsudomoe.”
“From the cannon dock under the deck, there is a messenger from the cannon instructor Gamo Ujisato! We have succeeded at turning the front of the Oniyadomaru!”
“The ‘Migi Mitsudomoe” has fallen within the range of the cannons loaded on the side of the ship!”
“Wait. If Yoshiharu is aboard that Atakebune with the “Migi Mitsudomoe”....considering that guy’s character, he should be riding with Kobayakawa. I didn’t come across him in the telescope earlier, but he might have left his position by chance.”
Nobuna suddenly hesitated about attacking.
But if Yoshiharu regains his memory he might scold, “You lost the decisive battle of Kizugawaguchi for the sake of one person, got a large number of my comrades killed, and destroyed the Oda clan. Are you still Oda Nobuna?” He would surely be disappointed that I wasn’t strong, Yoshiharu was that kind of guy – and changed her mind.
Yoshiharu will surely survive, even until now that “Dodgeball Yoshiharu” thing – until my dreams come true, Yoshiharu-
If it was the former Nobuna, she would have been swayed by her emotions.
Many times she had been swayed by her emotions, shed tears, and lost the big fish.
In order to rescue Saitou Dousan who was alone in Mino, she didn’t kill Nagamasa Asai and Yoshikage Asakura despite winning the battle of Anegawa.
But, now, it was different.
I believe in Sagara Yoshiharu.
In this case Yoshiharu would always yell “Shoot without care”, and believe.
Even if you lost your memory, even if you forget your memories of me, even if you are under Kobayakawa Takakage -
“All warships, shoot! Aim at the ‘Migi Mitsudomoe’!”
Nobuna gave the order for an all-out attack.
At this time, the Oniyadomaru’s hull was already tilted to its limit.
On the top of the inclined tower, Nobuna watched.
The large ship at the center of the Murakami Navy’s fleet, the “Migi Mitsudomoe” Atakebune, one shot, two shots, and the cannonball finally hit.
“It hit! The bow was blown away by the tremendous power!”
“Please look! The “Migi Mitsudomoe” is beginning to sink! With this the Murakami Navy lost its commander, it’s a last moment victory for your friends!”
“....Dearuka.”
Yoshiharu, survive. Nobuna closed her eyes and prayed.
But right away, she noticed something odd.
No, something odd wasn’t happening.
The Murakami Navy’s pirate group which should have lost the flagship that their commander was aboard, were not shaken at all.
They were in perfect order as if nothing had happened, they continued to throw the magnets one after another at the Oniyadomaru’s bow that was in the middle of sinking.
“What? Despite the “Migi Mitsudomoe sinking? What does it mean? Who is commanding the huge fleet?”
“It’s possible...Nobuna-chan. We may have been taken in by Kobayakawa-san.”
“Taken in? What do you mean, Sakon?”
“Kobayakawa wasn’t aboard the Migi Mitsudomoe from the beginning. She put her identical twin on the Migi Mitsudomoe. In addition, it would become the target for the cannon, and it would nine times out of ten be the duty to die – a real older sister!”
Kazumasu who is also a younger twin sister was convinced. “How cold-blooded of a commander, to do such a truly heartless plan.”
So, while anyone in her situation could see through the plan of using a twin as a body double, “It’s impossible to do such a thing”, that assumption became a blind spot and she didn’t notice.
However, Kobayakawa Takakage, did that.
The Kobayakawa Takakage that was standing proudly on the Atakebune with the “Migi Mitsudomoe” that took the cannonball and was sinking – it wasn’t Kobayakawa Takakage.
“Ha. It isn’t the younger sister. I am Motoharu Kikkawa!”
The warrior gave her introduction while roaring with laughter
“We caught you! In this large fleet where is my younger sister, the Oda clan don’t know anymore! When you find her, the Oniyadomaru will already be in a watery grave. With this, the battle is Mori’s victory!”
The one who took off her Japanese flag headband, and continued to pretend to be expressionless, was Kikkawa Motoharu.
It wasn’t simply bravery.
Her whole body was like a clump of courage, rare even in Japan’s Princess Knights.
Because Kikkawa Motoharu is also a human, she still has the feeling of fear.
However, it is possible to conquer that fear with courage.
While boarding the Atakebune with the “Migi Mitsudomoe” as a body double of Kobayakawa Takakage with the assumption of being sunk from the beginning, or even when the hull took the cannonball, Kikkawa Motoharu didn’t have an expression of fear for even a moment and kept up her expressionless iron mask like her younger sister.
When the Atakebune was successfully hit and began to sink, Motoharu who knew that her role in this battle was over, gave her name and laughed unconsciously.
Motoharu’s courage which doesn’t know limits, and the strength of the bonds beyond life and death that connects the Mori Twin River sisters, it was outside Oda Nobuna’s calculations.
“Despite receiving a cannonball of that size to the hull, Aneki is alive. It’s a miracle. No matter what, I’ll get you.”
Kobayakawa Takakage and Sagara Yoshiharu boarded a shabby Hayafune at the end of the line of the T formation.
Murakami Takeyoshi that boarded the “true flagship” with the two was personally rowing the oars, because it is a small and light Hayafune.
If this ship was a large Atakebune, the oar rowers would be squeezed into the cabin under the deck.
“The Oda people are disturbed. They suddenly lost their attack target. Their formation has also collapsed. Before I am found, the Oniyadomaru will sink, and the Oda people will lose their morale and flee. This battle is Mori’s victory with another push. Aneki, I will certainly rescue you.”
“She is a good elder sister, Kobayakawa-san. Without hesitating, she volunteered for the role of Kobayakawa-san’s body double. She is a responsible person herself.”
“That’s right. Aneki always disregards her life and continues to protect me. Aneki is too good to me.”
“Well it was a good decision. It was a good plan for Kikkawa-san to stand as the body double, and to buy an enormous quantity of magnets from Hakata, Ryukyu, and the Ming dynasty. Kobayakawa-san’s courage is also amazing. If the iron armored ships were just a bit more stable than I guessed, the magnet plan would have failed.”
“I must have that determination or Aneki would scold me for being a coward.”
He understood that Takakage’s body was shaking.
Yoshiharu quietly hugged Takakage’s shoulders.
They just needed another push and the Oniyadomaru would sink.
The Oniyadomaru’s tilting hull pitched forward and the bow began to slowly sink.
“Ojou, Takamoto protected you.”
Murakami Takeyoshi was convinced of their victory and watched the Oniyadomaru’s huge build sink.
“...These Mori Twin Rivers. It is my loss.”
In the Oniyadomaru’s tower that was currently tilting almost vertically, Nobuna wasn’t able to stand any longer and fell to her knees.
“The wisdom and courage of the Mori Twin Rivers, and Yoshiharu’s future knowledge. The cause of our defeat is that the three gathered in the Mori clan. Completely like three arrows. Yoshiharu is already...”
“Nobuna-chan, you cannot give up yet!”
The shinobi Kazumasu grabbed Nobuna’s body so she didn’t fall out of the tower.
“T-t-t-that’s right. On the assumption that Yoshiharu knew about the contents of this battle in advance, I prepared one last hand for such a time.”
Until now, she seems to have been hidden in the ship’s bilge.
The pale, petite Princess Knight that climbed the tower said, “I ordered each of the ship’s captains to open a small pouch I gave them in case an unlikely danger visited the Oniyadomaru. I’m sorry I’m sorry.” She clung to Nobuna’s waist while apologizing. Since the hull was tilting and shaking, her steps were unsteady.
It was the young genius tactician, Takenaka Hanbei.
“Hanbei? Where have you been hidden until now? When did you board? What is the small pouch?”
“I’m sorry. That...the sea is scary so I was trembling with closed eyes at the bottom of the ship. And I felt that this secret plan must not be leaked to anyone in advance, so I was silent until the last moment. In addition, it would hurt Kanbei who was pleased and said 'Fufu we can win with the single column'....please don’t bully me.”
“Dearuka. You are able to reverse the situation?”
“Yes. I can do it!”
“How?”
“The small bag that was handed to all of the ship captains, they all have instructions. We will change the formation! The six iron armored ships have already begun to change into a new formation! This Oniyadomaru does not need to be able to move! Soon our certain victory formation will be completed!”
“But Hanbei. Aren’t you unable to use your specialty onmyodo techniques anymore?”
“Yes! This formation isn’t the Kimon Gates of onmyodo. This formation we are building now, is a future battle formation.”
“Future...”
“Yes. I am the strategist that serves Yoshiharu-san. Even if he is far away, I know what Yoshiharu is thinking. I can predict what Yoshiharu will surely do, and planned beyond that.”
Somehow Hanbei’s proud smile made Nobuna remember her jealousy a little.
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