Chapter 3
Kokondenju
Tango.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru and the ‘man in problem’, Hosokawa Fujitaka departed from the Ming dynasty and hid in Oki Islands, after learning that Mori had captured Himeji Castle, they immediately landed on Tango, enter Tanabe Castle and started barricading in it.
The Wokou company they hired from the sea of Ming dynasty, “Feels good to come back to Japan after so long” “The wine, water, and fish are all very delicious!” “As the pirates that being exiled from Japan, we now actually can have the decisive battle along with the Kengou Shogun” “It’s great to be pirates” talking loudly with passion. Their battle moral were high which was unexpected. They were also very accustomed to battles. Despite how bad they were called, they were still the people that fought at places outside of Japan and survived until now.
The wandering Kengou Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru. After he passed the position of the Shogun to his younger sister, Yoshiaki, he immersed himself into becoming the number one sword demon in the Ming dynasty by challenging countless martial art masters day and night. And now he was confident that he could even kill Uesugi Kenshin. In other words, he became the ‘unrivaled in the world’ already. There were scars everywhere on his body, from his face to his limbs. His originally robust body now further expanded for a double again.
“I’m not that naive to return to Japan just because being moved by my younger sister and help her, Fujitaka. This is her own battle. As the Ashikaga Shogun, if she couldn’t grasp the victory by her own strength then it’s just a dream for her to rejuvenate the Ashikaga Shogunate. I’m a man that’s suitable to be the escort or bodyguard of the Shogun right from the beginning. However, after overwhelmingly defeated the Oda army at Tedorigawa of Kaga, Uesugi Kenshin does not have any further movement which worries me. Therefore, I reluctantly listened to your advice and return to Japan.”
“Huhu. For Uesugi Kenshin, am I right?”
“That’s right. A long time ago, my sworn younger brother, Konoe Sakihisa suggested to Uesugi Kenshin about ‘the Kanpaku will be the Kanto Kubo, while she becomes the Kanto Kanrei (TL note: Kubo is the ruler of a certain place, while Kanrei is like a deacon), with the combination of politics and military to protect the Imperial Court and Shogunate in Kyoto through the province of samurai, Kanto’ which was a dreamy thinking, but Kenshin who couldn’t reject when being asked for help frankly vowed she would accomplish Konoe’s ambition and headed to Kanto. If without the busybody Konoe on Kenshin’s side, then her expedition on Kanto would be completed and her wish to rejuvenate the Kanto Kanrei family should’ve accomplished already! No, what if Kenshin was not in Kanto, but fighting along with me against the Miyoshi and Matsunaga in Kyoto…….I’m supposed to do everything I can to stop Kenshin and Konoe! Considered
Kenshin’s feelings at that time, I’m very ashamed. Letting Kenshin come to Kyoto thrice even if to put me as the ‘bait’ was not to let her being manipulated by me and Konoe, but to let her ‘righteousness’ to blossom in Kyoto.”
“Konoe-sama is a person that takes action before considering others. But is only a mere 500 soldiers barricading in Tanabe Castle brings any help to
Kenshin?”
“It does! As long as I, the former Shogun sticks to this Tanabe Castle as the second commander of the ‘Eastern Army’, then the people of Tango, Wakasa, and Echizen will submit to the Eastern Army successively. Even if they don’t acknowledge the young Yoshiaki who is staying in the Mori clan now, if they see my flag, then they would come here as soon as possible because the real Ashikaga Shogun has returned to Japan! Our army gets bigger when we stay longer. However, Echizen has Takenaka Hanbei while Kyoto has Akechi Mitsuhide, once either of them deploys a large army to attack Tanabe Castle, then we can only fight till death.”
“Huhu. Juubei is a person that values the relationship with others, she will never attack us because you are her former lord. I’m afraid Takenaka Hanbei from Echizen would be the one come to Tanabe Castle. The troops that she has are approximately between 10,000 to 15,000…..”
“That’s right! But that’s the best outcome! The strength of the Oda army at Echizen that’s containing Kenshin from going to Kyoto will be reduced at least half! I will stick to this Tanabe Castle as possible I can and fight till
death as a sword demon. Now is the time for me to wash away the disgrace I had from retreating in the Nijou Imperial Court. In that way, Kenshin can mobilize!”
“We might be trampled to pieces by the soldiers like ants, I’m sorry, Fujitaka, devise plans that could extend the siege battle even for one day when the
time comes, after all, this is a battle initiated by you”—- Yoshiteru laughed straightforwardly.
“The plan has been carrying out already. Have you forgotten, my lord? I’m the only one in Japan that can inherit the ‘Kokondenju’ that’s been keeping a secret by the Sanjonishi clan. The book full of secrets, ‘Kokondenju’ is now in my belly.”
“‘Kokondenju’ huh. But what it could do in a battlefield?”
“The ministers of the Yamato Imperial Court afraid to lose the ‘Kokondenju’ that passed on in a bloodline. Konoe-sama and others must be enduring great pressure from them. He will definitely move around to stop the Oda army from attacking Tanabe Castle. This time, we can make use of his pedantic thinking to buy us some time.”
“I see. The ‘Kokondenju’ does prevent us from a ‘war’. But what could it do to the ‘war’ itself?”
“Huhu. It’s showing its uses now. The reason I know the ‘future’ of you being assassinated by the Miyoshi Three in Nijou Imperial Court is due to the incident of an attack happens in the Nijou Imperial Court was recorded on ‘Kokondenju’. The fortunate thing is I interpreted it successfully before the Miyoshi Three commence the attack and made it in time.”
“What? ‘Kokondenju’ is a book that predicts the ‘future’?”
“That’s right. No one in the Sanjonishi clan could read that book which is written in Jindai Moji, but I learned the technique to interpret Jindai Moji from my mother’s family, the Yoshida clan. ‘Move the world, feel the ghosts,
influence the people, harmonize the couple, poems are the best of it’—-”
“…..Is that so. ‘Kokondenju’ is your weapon huh. Honestly, you have the appearance of a maiden general, but you are an unpredictable man huh……but the ‘history’ has been distorted the moment you saved me from the Nijou Imperial Court isn’t it? I’m supposed to die there, but you saved me. Therefore, at that point, the ‘future’ has had a drastic change. The prophecy from the ‘Kokondenju’ is not accurate anymore right?”
“Huhu. That’s a long story, in order to prevent a drastic change in the flow of ‘history’, we secluded in the Ming dynasty to step down from Japan ‘history’.
And then right now, we give our final ‘move’ by entering Japan at this final phase where Japan was separated into the Oda alliance called the Western Army and the anti-Oda alliance called the Eastern Army, it’s possible for us to grasp the flow of ‘history’ with our hands which supposed to be
impossible. The final winner in the Sengoku Era will be the chief commander of the Eastern Army, Ashikaga Yoshiaki-sama, and the Ashikaga Shogunate will be rejuvenated”, Fujitaka revealed a smile looks like a maiden while answering the questions from his lord and also an elder brother, Yoshiteru.
“The profound argumentation of the Onmyodo says this world is the actual world formed by actual entities and power of language. They call it the ‘real world’. For instance, my existence is a human with an actual body and being granted the name ‘Hosokawa Fujitaka’, which means I am a human emerges after bestowed the power of language. Same goes for my lord, you exist in this world as a human with being granted the power of language called ‘Ashikaga Yoshiteru’. However, the inside of this world—-it is said to be a spiritual world that did not have actual entities, an unreal world called the ‘underworld’. Just like there’ll be shadow when there’s light, a world also has its surface and its depths, the difference of Onmyo. Therefore, techniques and arts that are related to both of the worlds are called Onmyodo.”
(TL note: The power of language is a belief of the Japanese. They believe that words and language contains power or soul that could affect the environment and people)
“……..What’s with that. I do not so understand about it? Is it something like
the ‘present world’ and the ‘afterworld’ that appears in Japan mythologies? It is said that a distorted place located somewhere in this world exists another world, the ‘afterworld’.”
“Yes. However, ‘underworld’ is not a world gathers the deceased that left this world, it is a ‘mirror’ of our world. Both of the worlds are nearly identical. The underworld also has something like a ‘shadow’ called ‘Hosokawa Fujitaka’.
Just like there’s a ‘shadow’ called Ashikaga Yoshiteru. But everything lives in the underworld does not have actual entities. They are solely formed by the power of language.”
Hosokawa Fujitaka said that if the ‘real world’ was seen as the ‘actual’, then the ‘underworld’ is the ‘shadow’ of the ‘real world’. The ‘real world’ consisted
of actual entities, but the ‘underworld’ consists of the power of language only. However, just like the shadow moved along the actual body, the actual body also moved along the shadow, the two non-overlapping worlds were like the surface and inside of a ‘mirror’, and an unseen ‘force’ interacted between
them. Therefore the same ‘human’ existed in both of the worlds, no matter the ‘fate’ they carried or the history that people weaved, it was just like two mirrors facing each other, the process happened in both worlds was the same.
“In the ancient Heian period, the Onmyoji could manipulate the incorporeal existence just by chanting the ‘name’ of the human or the monster is due to the ‘power of language’ that connects the real world and the underworld.
Whenever the population of our world increases, meaning the number of actual entities increases, the power of ‘actual’ increases as well. Therefore,
Onmyodo has already lost that kind of power. But, the power of the language of the prophecy recorded in ‘Kokondenju’ is still accurate and strong. The genuine author of ‘Kokondenju’, is the person that became a cursed spirit after being put down to Dazaifu and had to suppress him with the power of language in ‘Kokin Wakashu’ compiled by the Yamato Imperial Court, the number one genius scholar in Japan history, Sugawara no Michizane. I
believe that Michizane can look into the ‘underworld’ directly. Both worlds are connected by an unseen force, everything happens in the ‘underworld’ will happen in the ‘real world’ as well.”
“Is that so. So Himeko-sama gathered people to compile the ‘Kokin
Wakashu’ is because of the trouble caused by the cursed spirit of Michizane who got kicked out from the Imperial Court and died at Dazaifu. Certainly, the timing for both events are unanimous, the Himeko-sama gave an order to compile that poem collection book is the same person as the one that kicked Michizane to Dazaifu due to the pressure from the Fujiwara clan”, Yoshiteru muttered.
“In the preface of ‘Kokin Wakashu’, Ki no Tsurayuki chanted ‘Move the world, feel the ghosts, influence the people, harmonize the couple, poems are the best of it’ which contains immense power of language. The ‘ghosts’ here means Sugawara no Michizane. At his late age in the Dazaifu, the prophecy book that Sugawara no Michizane wrote down the ‘future’ of Japan by looking into the ‘underworld’ is ‘Kokondenju’. The reason why he wrote this book, no one knows……..or maybe Michizane had the ability to foresee the ‘future’ was exactly why he was kicked out by the Fujiwara clan. Since the ‘Kokondenju’ predicted the decline of the Fujiwara clan and the rise of samurais, the arrival and the end of the Sengoku Era—-to the Fujiwara clan, this was a forbidden prophecy. In this book, it predicted ‘the Onin War’, ‘the incident of Nijou Imperial Court’, even ‘the incident of Honnou Temple’ and ‘the battle of Sekigahara’. If the patriarch of the Fujiwara clan, Konoe Sakihisa-sama could understand the content of this book, he will surely utterly shocked and burn it into ash. Therefore, this book was written by the Jindai Moji as an implication book. The irony thing is, the Michizane with high wisdom deliberately use ‘Kokondenju’ as the ‘book title’, and the result is this book was mistaken as the explanation book for the ‘Kokin Wakashu’ that compiled to suppress Michizane, the more unexpected thing is the ‘Kokondenju’ was kept on the Sanjonishi clan which is originally one of the families from the Fujiwara clan.”
(TL note: the Kokondenju and Kokin Wakashu has the same ‘??’ in their titles, and Kokondenju can be understood as ‘the teachings of ??’)
Honnou Temple? Sekigahara? What’s with that? Yoshiteru tilted his head. Regarding the prophecy book or the Onmyodo, they were unamusing to
Yoshiteru who advocated the ‘martial art’ strength, meaning the body strength.
“The important thing is, the world we are living right now is the only actual world, the world that truly exists outside of the mirror. The so-called ‘underworld’ is just an imaginary world that displayed in the mirror, Fujitaka. If I look into the mirror, then what I see must be an inverted unreal image of me. That is my shadow exists in the ‘underworld’ huh. Still, the imaginary world displayed in the mirror, does it really bring such strong influences to our ‘fate’? Isn’t it supposed to be the opposite? If us with actual entities do not exist in this world, then it’s impossible for them to exist in the imaginary world. So even if we can bring influence to the imaginary world, conversely would be impossible right? The phantom of mine displayed in the mirror is controlling me, it shouldn’t be that way. Even if there is, the force should be insignificant.”
“Yes. What you said is correct, the influence from the ‘underworld’ to us is extremely slight. Therefore, our ‘fate’, despite it’s not easy to cross over with our own will, it’s still possible—-in fact, I rescued you from the Nijou Imperial Court. However, the ‘fate’ awaiting Juubei, I haven’t prevented it yet. I want to change the ‘future’ of yours and the Ashikaga clan, I also want to change the ‘future’ of Juubei.”
“Akechi Mitsuhide, her ‘fate’……..? You have affection on that girl huh, Fujitaka. You did highly praised that wandering maiden general ‘has the capability to be the emperor’ before……”
“Aiya. That’s not it, or maybe it is.”
“Otherwise, even if it’s a necessary means to change her ‘fate’, you won’t go so far as to propose to her, a man like you.”
“Huhu. How should I put it. There are always rumors around saying I’m actually a woman.”
“……..Stop saying that, I feel disgusted from hearing it. You are a man, as your elder brother, I’m very clear of it. Having said that, standing with you side by side, we resemble Musashibo Benkei and Yoshitsune. Doesn’t look like siblings at all.”
“Yes. I resemble my mother.”
“But Fujitaka, does Akechi Mitsuhide really will die if this goes on?” Yoshiteru asked and Fujitaka answered helplessly.
“Sagara Yoshiharu comes from the future to change Oda Nobuna’s ‘fate’. In the end, that young man just wants to save Oda Nobuna, even if it’s
unintentionally, he caused Juubei’s ‘fate’ to be getting hard to prevent. Therefore, I thought various plans to eliminate Sagara Yoshiharu. However, even if I successfully eliminated Sagara Yoshiharu, there would be another person that inherits his objective. No, that person has already appeared.
Maybe that Nanban missionary, Jasper is the one. He possessed a forbidden technique the Christian considered to be heathen. He most likely is a fake that ‘exchanged’ identity with the real Jasper somewhere.
“A person from the future and a Nanban person huh. Oda Nobuna is an extraordinary person. I thought she was an innocent foolish lady when I encountered her once at Kyoto……but her view is terrifying. She controlled half of Japan is a blink of an eye, that’s not something could be done with luck alone. She certainly has the capability of doing so.”
“That’s right. Oda Nobuna has a formidable strength that even I couldn’t explain. The strength to summon a person from far away who can risk his life to change her ‘fate’. If I must put a name for it, then it must be her willpower. Juubei will soon be devoured by the darkness of history as the ‘shadow’ of Oda Nobuna. If Oda Nobuna is the sun, then Juubei is the moon……there’s no other way to save Juubei other than eliminates the person that is sparkling in the center of Japan ‘history’, Oda Nobuna.”
“……….Sure enough, for the rejuvenation of Ashikaga Shogunate, the hero in the history, Oda Nobuna must be defeated huh. In the end, is that really a good thing to the history of Japan? As a samurai, I cannot determine. But I understand your feeling of wanting to save Akechi Mitsuhide.”
“Huhu. I do not remember I shared such feelings to my lord before.”
“Can we win Oda Nobuna with ‘Kokondenju’, Fujitaka? The power you have from interpreting the ‘future’ predicted by that book, can it compete with the person from the future, Sagara Yoshiharu.”
“Aiya. The generals of the Eastern Army—-Takeda Shingen. The Mori sisters. Uesugi Kenshin. They are not people willing to be controlled by their ‘fates’. Same goes for the generals of the Western Army. Every single one of them is struggling with their own ‘fate’. The influence of the ‘underworld’,
meaning the ‘coercive power of history’ is not absolute. The will of people always have an intense conflict with the ‘coercive power of history’.
Therefore, the ‘future’ is always flowing with uncertainty. Just like me, I did my best just to catch hold of the ‘future’ I believe to be correct with my own hands. Nevertheless”
“Nevertheless?”
“In this battle, regardless of famous generals that die accidentally or being assassinated, the first one to die………is the actual chief commander of the Eastern Army, Takeda Shingen.”
“Takeda Shingen? That kind of thing was also written in the ‘Kokondenju’?”
“Yes, unfortunately. That is her ‘fate’. Which means in this battle, the Western Army was forced into a desperate situation from the tactical view.
Actually, the Eastern Army is in disadvantage. There’s not much ‘time’ left for Takeda Shingen.”
Yoshiteru lost his words for a moment and quietly looked at the sky. The chirps of cuckoos could be heard from far away.
“…….Is that so. The exiled old general, Takeda Nobutora did some many things for his daughter to go to Kyoto, and now that general………Shingen never completed in capturing Kyoto even once……..the maiden general that is being feared and respected as the strongest in the Sengoku and the person closest to obtain the world is going to…….. ‘fate’ huh,……….it really is unreasonable. It makes people want to resist and to change. Fujitaka yo.”
“If Takeda Shingen dies before the decisive battle comes then the Eastern Army will lose its leader and followed by a collapse. We must make it quick. But the possibility of Juubei accept to marry with me and the Western Army separates to the Oda faction and Juubei faction is very low. That Sagara Yoshiharu will definitely prevent it. At that time, by making use of future knowledge from the ‘Kokondenju’, causing the overlap of two ‘futures’, greatly bring forward the ‘fate’ of the destruction of Oda Nobuna that will come sooner or later. We apply the power of ‘field’.”
“You have prepared the ‘plan’ that brings victory to the Eastern Army huh”, Yoshiteru nodded.
“Yes. And it’s now ‘carrying out’ already”, Fujitaka smiled.
“The so-called ‘field’ is also a power. The fundamental theory of astrology from the Japanese or the Western that reads the ‘fate’ of human from the movement of the stars at the sky is by observing the ‘field’ at of the sky occupied by the stars and the ‘field’ that humans are standing at as the inside and surface of a mirror respectively, thus read the force by the
humans in the ‘field’, followed by reading their ‘fates’, that’s how they do it so far. This is how humans’ ‘fates’ were manipulated by the force of ‘field’. I built the barrier of a ‘field’ all over Japan that triggers the defeat of the Western
Army, and ultimately leads Oda Nobuna into the ‘field’ that will become her ‘death place’.”
“Wait, Fujitaka. I can’t understand what you talking at all. What you are thinking is really hard for me to understand”, Yoshiteru smiled bitterly.
“Well, never mind. This time, I will swing my sword till the end, and fight till my death comes—-‘The May rain falls, and is it my tears or the mist that surround me? Hototogisu, take my name and soar above the clouds’. This is my word of death that couldn’t stay in the Nijou Imperial Court.”
“Huhu. This legacy was also recorded in the ‘Kokondenju’. I honestly apologize for it, as the word of death for a Shogun, it’s so terrible that I couldn’t look at it directly.”
“Hmph. You have finally said it. That’s right, I’m just a swordsman. If it’s not me, but you, who excels in both martial arts and literary born as the
legitimate child of the Ashikaga clan. ‘History’ will be completely different. Does it really exist, the ‘fate’—-”
Hosokawa Fujitaka displays a smile that a maiden had while looking at the sea of Tango.
“Juubei-chan! I’ve brought the letter of Nobuna to here! In order to save Nobuzumi who is barricading in Gifu Castle, we must change part of the plan! ……..Eh, she’s not here? Where’s Juubei-chan?”
Sagara Yoshiharu rushed to Honnou Temple of Kyoto quickly with a horse to deliver the letter from Ogaki Castle, learned that Mitsuhide and her deputy, Saitou Toshimitsu were not at the hall of Honnou Temple, “That’s strange.
Where did they go? I can’t see the people from the Himeji army that supposed to have retreated from Miki Castle as well” he tilted his head thinking.
Although the pedantic Kanpaku, Konoe Sakihisa who had vigorous pro- activity that surpasses the ministers was now heading to Tanabe Castle of Tango to prevent the ‘Kokondenju’ from being burnt. He did not notice the
‘Kokondenju’ was actually the book that predicted the demise of the Fujiwara clan at all.
Where did everyone go? The person that came to greet the anxious Yoshiharu was an unexpected one.
“I thought you will be here sooner, Sagara Yoshiharu-kun. Akechi Mitsuhide has fainted from overwork, and she’s now receiving health inspection from Manase Cilbal that came from Owari.”
“Jasper? You bastard! When did you join Juubei-chan’s side!? You gave up Sourin, and now egg on Juubei-chan’s military power! What you have done to Juubei-chan!”
If this person fed poison to Juubei-chan to prevent ‘the incident of Honnou Temple’, then even if he’s true identity is ‘my second reincarnation’, I won’t forgive him! I hate taking other people’s lives! Especially the assassination schemes! If this person is me, but he’s different from me…….!
The site is on Honnou Temple. Akechi Mitsuhide fell down. And Jasper knew the ‘future’ of ‘the fire on Azuchi Castle’. Yoshiharu thought Jasper was here to eliminate Mitsuhide, he immediately caught up Jasper’s hand to twist it over.
However, Yoshiharu could not invert Jasper’s wrist joint. The moment he was going twist it, ‘guwa’, Jasper’s elbow was bent to an unexpected angle. It was not a fracture from the twist. The elbow had bent before Yoshiharu exerted force.
“Eh!? What’s with this? It’s, it’s an active joint!?”
“…….Don’t make a conclusion too fast, Sagara Yoshiharu. The situations have turned to the extent that I must have a talk with you.”
“Do we have a need for a talk by now? If you found out evidence that you aren’t me, then I might listen to it!”
“Hosokawa Fujitaka entered the Tanabe Castle of Tango and starts barricading in it along with Ashikaga Yoshiteru-sama, he proposed to Akechi Mitsuhide. He said as the condition for reconciliation between Ashikaga Yoshiteru-sama and the Western Army, Akechi Mitsuhide has to get married to him—-”
“Hosokawa, Fujitaka……..barricading in a castle of Tango……!? And proposed to Juubei-chan!?”
“He owns a prophecy book called the ‘Kokondenju’. That book is a treasure rivals the three sacred treasures to the Yamato Imperial Court. Mitsuhide- dono wants to attack Tanabe Castle but she can’t. She’s in a dire situation now.”
In order to not reveal the ‘future’ to the outsiders.
In a room with only two of them, Yoshiharu heard “The Himeji army that’s heading to Kyoto from Miki Castle was crushed by the ambush of Kikkawa Motoharu squad before reaching here” “Chosokabe Motochika accidentally landed on Osaka Castle and forced to join the Eastern Army” “The main castle of Akechi Mitsuhide, Sakamoto Castle was infiltrated and captured by Rokkaku Shotei and Iga-Koga ninjas” “After Madam Maki, even Imagawa Yoshimoto who went to Sakamoto Castle as an envoy was captured by them as well. The lord of Sakamoto Castle is now the young lady of Kyogoku clan, Kyogoku Tatsuko” “Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Hosokawa Fujitaka who formerly fled to Ming dynasty appeared at Tanabe Castle of Tango” “The only reconciliation condition with Ashikaga Yoshiteru is the marriage of Mitsuhide and Fujitaka” “Akechi Mitsuhide who is not feeling well fell into confusion, she received baptism from Frois to avoid the marriage and got the Christian name Garasha, but finally fainted after hearing her engagement with Sagara Yoshiharu was canceled as well from Frois” a series of matters happened from Jasper.
“What. Juubei-chan…….in not even one day, there’s so many important things happened. Kanbei hasn’t arrived yet?”
“The Ootomo army led by Simeon encountered various traps prepared by Kobayakawa Takakage at Sanyodo, don’t say Kyoto, they haven’t even reached Settsu yet. Seems like they are having a hard fight with the ‘water attack’ prepared by Takakage.”
“If Kanbei is having a hard fight with the water plan prepared by Kobayakawa-san. It’s the opposite of the ‘history’ I know…..what an irony.”
“Oda Nobuna would most likely change her plan in order to save her younger brother at Gifu Castle, and you are the one delivers the letter, but the Western Army is in a desperate situation that beyond your expectation.
Hosokawa Fujitaka knows of the ‘future’. Not only that, in order to not change the flow of ‘history’ as much as possible, he actually granted freedom to you and Oda Nobuna and disappeared all this time. Just like he has planned the Oda clan will unite Kinai and the samurais all over Japan separated into the Eastern Army and Western Army, at the timing when the decisive battle is going to begin, he returned to eradicate Oda Nobuna from ‘history’.”
Hosokawa Fujitaka. I’ve never seen him before. Yoshiharu searched over his memories.
“Oh yeah. Not long ago before Oda Nobuna went to Kyoto, an intriguing event happened, Ashikaga Yoshiteru who supposed to die at Nijou Imperial Court survived and fled to Ming dynasty with his younger sister, Yoshiaki. So in the original ‘history’, Juubei-chan who supposed to bring Ashikaga
Yoshiaki to Nobuna’s side as the Shogun candidate elected Imagawa Yoshimoto who is a captive of the Oda clan as the candidate instead, and provided plans to Nobuna that’s considerably different from the ‘history’ I
know—-at that time, I believed it’s due Yoshimoto-chan was saved by me who was fated to die at Okehazama disrupted the flow of history, the history kicked Ashikaga Yoshiaki out of the stage in return…….”
“The main part that pays back the history you disrupted is not the indifferent ‘will of history’, it’s the ‘people’, Sagara Yoshiharu. Hosokawa Fujitaka probably wants to consume the ‘world’ Oda Nobuna and you holding at, to let the Ashikaga clan consume it, so he let us do whatever we want…..and now he returned to harvest the ‘world’ as the result.”
“Why you didn’t notice Hosokawa Fujitaka’s action until now!? What’s with your observation art?” Yoshiharu asked Jasper.
“He doesn’t appear on the platonic solid before at all. He probably used a power that rivals yours, or even beyond yours to interfere with the ‘future’, so I can’t identify him. Unfortunately, my memories appeared from the platonic solid are incomplete and intermittent. While Hosokawa Fujitaka might understand the future even more clearly than you. Hosokawa Fujitaka who interpreted the ‘Kokondenju’ is the most formidable enemy to Oda Nobuna.”
“The most formidable enemy, to Oda Nobuna……”
“Yes. Hosokawa Fujitaka intends to amend the history of Sengoku Zipangu you tampered at the final stage, ‘eliminate’ Oda Nobuna. Akechi Mitsuhide greatly wavered from the proposal of Fujitaka, she probably is a very important person to Oda Nobuna and the history of this country is beyond my expectation.”
Yoshiharu now only noticed.
Jasper did not have a clear, complete view of the ‘future’ named ‘the incident of Hounnou Temple. The only ‘future’ he knew was ‘the Honnou Temple is on fire’. That meant Jasper did not know the ‘culprit’ of ‘the incident of Honnou Temple’.
If Jasper really was ‘the second reincarnation of Yoshiharu’, meaning he had forgotten everything. The other possibility was he entered the ‘second reincarnation’ under the situation of not knowing who was the ‘culprit’.
At least it was a lucky thing to Mitsuhide. If Jasper was convinced that Mitsuhide was the culprit responsible for the death of Nobuna, then to change the ‘fate’ of Nobuna, he might’ve killed her here already. To Nobuna, he had “Impossible to pick up all fruits” “If there must be something to abandon, then everyone can be sacrificed to save Nobuna, even if it was his own life” these kinds of outraging thoughts.
This ws also the reason why Yoshiharu misunderstood ‘Jasper must be here to kill Juubei-chan with poison’ when he reached Honnou Temple.
However, could it be said as the fortunate part out of all the misfortunes? Apparently, the fact did not seem so.
“Sagara Yoshiharu. Akechi Mitsuhide probably fell in love with you. Before this, I always worried your love with Oda Nobuna will lead her to
‘destruction’. But I begin to understand after came to Kyoto here. The predicaments waiting for Oda Nobuna seems to be getting more complicated. Oda Nobuna and Akechi Mitsuhide will have a decisive crack in their relationship in some time. Your existence is the factor that breaks apart their relationship! And Hosokawa Fujitaka intercepted the vital point just in time! The proposal from Fujitaka is a trap. He intends to tear apart the bond, friendship, and the relationship as the lord and retainer between Oda Nobuna and Akechi Mitsuhide!”
Jasper said that he strived to make Ootomo Sourin who has a male phobia to occupy the position as the deputy of Oda Nobuna and also her friend was because he could foresee that as a maiden general, when there was a ‘man’ involved between Oda Nobuna and her deputy, a malignant event like a triangular relationship was bound to happen, followed by becoming a reason for the destruction of Oda Nobuna. But Ootomo Sourin whose fear of man would absolutely never cause that to happen. Therefore, he originally planned to make Ootomo Sourin as the Hephaestion of Oda Nobuna. (TL note: It is said that Hephaestion has an unusual friendship with Alexander
the Great, so it’s an analogy for the relationship between Sourin and Nobuna) But Sagara Yoshiharu took away Ootomo Sourin’s heart at Kyushu, causing his plan to fail. And now he even took away the heart of the prime minister of the Oda clan, Akechi Mitsuhide!
“In this battle, if Akechi Mitsuhide who leads the army in Kyoto betrays her lord, Oda Nobuna in order to snatch you away, then the Western Army will definitely face defeat. By the way, even if I go as far as to assassinate Akechi Mitsuhide, the Akechi squad at Kyoto loses their lord will collapse instantly, the Western Army will still lose. The most practical way to prevent the defeat of the Western Army is to approve the marriage of Akechi Mitsuhide and Hosokawa Fujitaka, reconcile with Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and have a ‘truce’……..but once Oda Nobuna commanded Akechi Mitsuhide to get married, at that time, their friendship will be bound to rupture. Mitsuhide who has even her mother captured as a hostage was forced till nowhere to go now. It’s very likely she would turn to the Eastern Army and attack Ogaki Castle. Sagara Yoshiharu. It’s all your fault, the result from wanting to pick up all the fruits and struggled to save all the maiden generals from the ‘fate’……..if only my memory was more intact. If only I entered Kyoto earlier. Even if it’s to ensure the Shimazu to have its power expand rapidly beyond expectations, I had stayed at Kyushu for too long. I had put in too much time on training Ootomo Sourin as the deputy of Oda Nobuna.”
“…….Don’t tell me you have ‘affection’ on Sourin now, Jasper. You couldn’t forsake Sourin who has her heart broken from the pain of losing her loved ones successively, am I right?”
“……..No, that’s not the case. It’s impossible at all, Sagara Yoshiharu. I came to Zipangu solely to change the ‘fate’ of Oda Nobuna. To have affection against Ootomo Sourin or something like that…….”
Jasper denied. But he spoke in hesitant which was rare to see. It was obvious to Yoshiharu, not only to Nobuna, but Jasper also had deep ‘affection’ against Sourin.
“Sagara Yoshiharu. Ootomo Sourin has achieved independence spiritually as a hime daimyo with your help and also others, right now she is staying at Kyushu to have a decisive fight with Nabeshima Naoshige, it’s useless to say anything……but Ootomo Sourin is necessary to Oda Nobuna as a ‘friend’.
It’s all for the sake of Oda Nobuna to overcome her ‘fate’.”
“To overcome Nobuna’s ‘fate’, the help of Ootomo Sourin is necessary? That is, what’s going on?”
“For as much, there’s no time for me to talk about this with you already. But, Sagara Yoshiharu. Even though our means contrast with each other, our objective is the same. That is to save Oda Nobuna. The ‘enemy’ that wants her to disappear is very strong. Until Oda Nobuna leads the Western Army and obtained complete victory in this battle happens, we should stop seeing each other as a foe.”
“I was almost done by you for a few times, I could never believe you! I don’t mind even if you still firmly believe you are ‘the second reincarnation of me’ now, and still thinking of eliminating my existence to save Nobuna!”
“Isn’t the one thought this way is yourself? You said never allowed assassination or what even if it’s to save Nobuna. When the person becomes ‘me’, you can exceptionally forgive, isn’t it?”
“Whatever you say, this conversation will never have a conclusion, Jasper. If you really do want a truce, then I hope you can give assurance.”
Jasper handed the platonic solid wrapped in a cloth to Yoshiharu.
“This is a precious treasure that collects my memory fragments, but currently it doesn’t have any use under the situation of unable to ‘observe’ Hosokawa Fujitaka. Until Oda Nobuna was protected from Hosokawa Fujitaka’s hands, I will let you keep it. Although this stone is not a human, it could be said as a part of my flesh. This is my ‘truce assurance’.”
“…….Have things developed to this desperate already……! Now we have a truce temporarily, but what happens after Hosokawa Fujitaka, our mutual enemy was settled?”
“Of course, we will go back to the relationship as foes like before. Bet on our convictions upon a decisive battle. I who believe everything should be
forsaken to save ‘Oda Nobuna’, and you who believe to ‘pick up all the fruits’. One of us will remain in this world. Or maybe both of us will disappear together—-if you are ‘me before the reincarnation’, if that’s really the case, then at the instant I killed you, I will disappear due to killing my past self as well. Therefore, I have already made my resolve. If Oda Nobuna cannot be saved without eliminating you from the ‘fate’, then it’s fine that even if I need to disappear from this world. My dream is Oda Nobuna accomplished Tenkafubu, becomes Alexandra the Great of Zipangu and explore the sea, you can say that is my glory or what. However, if Oda Nobuna were to be defeated in this battle and destructed before our decisive fight begins, everything is meaningless. And now Hosokawa Fujitaka is intending to eliminate her from the ‘history’ through this battle.”
“……..I got it. Your affection towards Nobuna is worth to be trusted. No matter you are me, or someone else…….”
“Gracias (TL note: thank you in Spanish), Sagara Yoshiharu”
“But even if you said we are in a truce for now and deal with Hosokawa Fujitaka, our mutual enemy, what we should we do exactly?”
“Sagara Yoshiharu. If you persuade and please Akechi Mitsuhide ‘to get married with Hosokawa Fujitaka for the sake of Oda Nobuna’, she probably will agree. You are the only one that can convince her”, Jasper told Yoshiharu.
Of course, Yoshiharu won’t just simply accept with ‘I understand’. That was impossible for him to do it.
“That is, I can’t do it. Juubei-chan’s heart will break completely.”
“………From your point of view, that certainly would be the answer. However, is there any other way to deal with Hosokawa Fujitaka? That man does not appear on the platonic solid before. I, I can’t predict what he will do at all.”
“There should be a way. Jasper, the ‘future’ you foresaw on the platonic solid are discontinuous fragments. So, in order to anticipate the ‘future’, the only choice you have is to make up the incomplete information with your
speculation. But it’s different for me. Even though it’s just knowledge from books or games, but I clearly know the entire series of history in the form of ‘story’. Right now, the matter of Hosokawa Fujitaka barricading in Tanabe Castle is very unnatural. If he wants to barricade in a castle facing the Sea of Japan, then somewhere in Wakasa or Tsuruga of Echizen should be fine. As long as he occupied the stronghold of northland circuit, Tsuruga, then he can completely separate Hanbei who’s at Northland and Nobuna who’s at Oumi. Why he chose Tango? Hosokawa Fujitaka, who knows of the ‘future’
reluctantly chose the ‘field’ in Tango, there must be some important meaning.”
“Try to open up the map of Zipangu, deploy the military divisions of the
Eastern Army and Western Army as ‘pieces’ on it and have a look, Sagara Yoshiharu.”
The black pieces represent the Eastern Army while the white ones represent the Western Army—while being told of the regulations, Jasper arranged the ‘pieces’ of both Eastern and Western Army on the important locations in Honshu.
Staring at the ‘pieces’ deployed on every important location, Yoshiharu muttered “Perhaps”.
“The deployment of ‘pieces’, it looks familiar to me. In Tanabe Castle of Tango is Hosokawa Fujitaka of the Eastern Army. Sakamoto Castle of West Oumi is Kyogoku Tatsuko of the Eastern Army. The Mikawa, Oumi, Owari, Ise, and Tokaido frontline that belongs to the Western Army not long ago are now all fall into the Eastern Army hands. This is due to the ally of Nobuna, Tokugawa Ieyasu turned in to the Eastern Army suddenly. And then—- Osaka Castle of Settsu belongs to the Mori sisters now. Originally, the Osaka Honnya Temple changed its name to Osaka Castle should be happening in a further future…….”
Yoshiharu was likely received a revelation and had his body trembling furiously.
“Wait a minute. That’s strange. This deployment is remarkably alike to ‘the battle of Sekigahara’ that suppose to happen in a future way further from now! Due to the general members and locations of castles have subtle
differences so it’s not completely alike, but basically, the formation looks the same! Moreover! Whether it’s Hanbei, Nobuna, and even Iehisa, all of them have decided to carry out the decisive battle at ‘Sekigahara’, the West from Ogaki Castle! That is a place that distinguishes the East and West of Japan and suitable for a battle with large armies, so it’s not something questionable to be chosen as the battlefield, but still, it’s too…….the ‘deployment’ of the Eastern Army, it’s way too alike!”
“Sagara Yoshiharu. Don’t you tell me that ‘the battle of Sekigahara’ happens after the death of Oda Nobuna.”
“Yes. Nobuna couldn’t resist the ‘fate’ and fallen before she accomplished Tenkafubu, and then happened an all-out battle that involved the entire country regarding who becomes the emperor and all samurais in Japan separated into the Eastern and Western Army respectively. From the knowledge I learned, the Eastern Army used Kanto as their base area while the Western Army used Owari and Mino as the base area, it should be an intense battle happens around the Kiyosu Castle of Owari. But due to the daimyos of Mikawa and Oumi of the Tokaido frontline turned in to the Eastern Army, they made the first move and captured Kiyosu Castle of Owari. Therefore, the Western Army forced to withdraw to the defense line at Gifu Castle of Mino!”
“The situations you said corresponds with the development of Tokugawa Ieyasu turned in to the Eastern Army, Oda Nobuna forced to abandon Kiyosu Castle of Owari and withdraw to Mino in this battle, Sagara Yoshiharu.”
“That’s not the end. The Kyogoku army that supposed to enter Otsu Castle of West Oumi as the Western Army, turned to the Eastern Army and brings threat to the Western Army from the rear. This Otsu Castle was a new castle built as the stronghold in West Oumi after Juubei-chan’s main castle, Sakamoto Castle became a ruined castle. And right now, Kyogoku Tatsuki, who originally was a servant of Imagawa Yoshimoto was announced as the lord of Sakamoto Castle and starts barricading in it! The Western Army had to separate out troops to siege the Otsu Castle and ultimately caused the
Western Army lack of troops in the crucial decisive battle!”
“…….Although I’m very concerned about the story of how this grand
Sakamoto Castle becomes a ruined castle, these situations don’t seem like pure coincidences at all, please continue.”
“I’ve finally recalled it when I’m talking about it right now. In ‘the battle of
Sekigahara’, in the Tanabe Castle of Tango, there’s a general of the Eastern Army barricading in it. A former ally of Akechi Mitsuhide, a general named Hosokawa Yusai! Because he’s a successor of the ‘Kokondenju’ that passed on in a bloodline, the government, meaning the Imperial Court intervened in the siege of Tanabe Castle by the Western Army at that time……that should be it. Hosokawa Yusai, his name is ‘Hosokawa Fujitaka’ before becoming a monk! This guy! Fujitaka is Yusai! Fujitaka actually follows the ‘history’ and barricades in Tanabe Castle! Perhaps he’s trying to reenact the ‘deployment’ of ‘pieces’ in ‘the battle of Sekigahara’ on this land!”
Yoshiharu successively recalled the situations of ‘the battle of Sekigahara’ learned from books and games. The Mori entered the Osaka Castle also matches with ‘the battle of Sekigahara’! The Eastern Army acts arrogantly in Ise as well! Although the difference was the Mori did not affiliate with the Western Army but Eastern Army instead, however, right at this moment, the battle that truly carrying out right now was exactly the same as the process in ‘the battle of Sekigahara’!
“Sagara Yoshiharu. No matter how well you know of the ‘future’, you still can’t manipulate the lively hearts of others easily. Even I also can’t change Ootomo Sourin into a puppet. Therefore, Hosokawa Fujitaka planned to make use of the power of the land that’s non-human—-the power of ‘field’ to reenact the battle situation of ‘the battle of Sekigahara’ that supposed to happen in further future huh. The ‘field’ consisted of the theory of ‘power’ which couldn’t be seen, it was worshiped in the sorcery culture all over the world. But still, everything is developing just according to what Hosokawa
Fujitaka wants to be. That’s too unnatural.”
“I experienced several times before. Even though Kanbei denies its existence, but it’s like an unseen power to clear up the ‘history’ I tampered—- it’s unknown whether ‘the coercive power of history’ is on its move to support Fujitaka or not. More likely would be Hosokawa roughly knows the principle of ‘the coercive power of history’ and in turn make it beneficial to himself!
Since he’s the person interpreted the ‘Kokondenju’ that no one can. He should have the wisdom to that extent.”
“……..One of the main point in manipulating ‘the coercive power of history’ is the power of ‘field’ huh. Space and land contain a different kind of power
from the willpower of humans……as long as created the ‘deployment’ that resembles ‘the battle of Sekigahara’, then he can involve Oda Nobuna into ‘the battle of Sekigahara’ that she doesn’t participate in originally huh?”
“Indeed, Jasper. In the ‘history’, in ‘the battle of Sekigahara’, the Western Army was defeated! Therefore Fujitaka intentionally induces Oda Nobuna onto the position as the chief commander of the Western Army! The ‘fate’ of ‘destruction’ that Nobuna supposes to confront, the two of us are struggling to prevent it though we are in opposition. I’m a person from the future, and you also ‘self-proclaimed’ as a person from the future. So the possibility of Nobuna able to overcome the ‘fate’ and not retiring from the ‘history’ is very high. Fujitaka who strives for the Ashikaga clan as the final winner plans to ‘coincide’ another ‘future’ named ‘the battle of Sekigahara’ with the decisive
battle that Nobuna cannot step back for the sake of Tenkafubu, and followed by triggering the ‘fate’ of Nobuna’s destruction in advance mandatorily!”
“Sagara Yoshiharu. Then what should we do next? If the battlefield for the final battle becomes ‘Sekigahara’, and that is the purpose of Hosokawa Fujitaka, then the Gifu Castle that Tsuda Nobuzumi is defending will fall soon.”
“In the ‘history’, the general entered Gifu Castle is ‘Oda Hidenobu’ of the Western Army, he was defeated and captured under a fierce attack of the Eastern Army. Oda Hidenobu is undoubtedly a direct bloodline general of the Oda clan. Although he wanted to commit seppuku at the same time when the castle was fallen, he was saved by the Eastern Army right on time, but he was exiled to Mount Koya and died after not so long……speaking of this Mount Koya, it has a history of battle with the Oda clan. After Oda Hidenobu was exiled to Mount Koya, needless to say, he has no place to survive over
there, and his ending is suicide. In other words, the Eastern Army just didn’t do it by themselves, actually, it doesn’t have much difference from being killed after being defeated. Due to the final defense line, Gifu Castle has fallen, the main forces of the Western Army settled at Ogaki Castle retreated to Sekigahara, the Eastern Army pursues for further attack. Two armies totaled nearly 200,000 troops gathered in Sekighara and conducted the greatest war in Japan history—-in the end, the Western Army was defeated. The chief commander was executed…….and the main family of Oda clan ends with the death of Oda Hidenobu…..”
Even Jasper couldn’t be helped to have his face went pale.
“No. That won’t do. Sagara Yoshiharu. The general that’s defending Gifu Castle now is the biological younger brother of Oda Nobuna, Tsuda Nobuzumi. The only legitimate son of the Oda main family. His ‘predicament’ is too similar to ‘Oda Hidenobu’. If Gifu Castle existed the power of ‘field’, I’m afraid the ‘fate’ will lead Tsuda Nobuzumi to suffer defeat, followed by taking over his life. And then the fall of Gifu Castle happens, Oda Nobuna will be defeated as well, and lastly dies. The Eastern Army is advancing to Kiyosu of Owari now. If they’re fast enough, then the siege on Gifu Castle will carry out on today or tomorrow. There’s no time left for Oda Nobuna and Tsuda Nobuzumi!”
“No. There’s still some time left. Nobuna is heading Gifu Castle to save Nobuzumi now. As for Juubei-chan in Kyoto, in order to prevent the Mori captures Sekigahara beforehand, wish she could enter Sekigahara first—- this is the reason I deliver a letter to Honnou Temple here.”
“Still, it’s Sekigahara huh…….the ‘deployment’ Fujitaka strives for is close to being finished. Despite that, can we still overcome the ‘fate’? Sagara
Yoshiharu.”
“Ahah, I also know about ‘the battle of Sekigahara’. We can overcome it for sure. As long as we can save Nobuzumi, then we can overturn everything.”
“If we fail, then please enter ‘the second reincarnation’, Sagara Yoshiharu.”
“That means the moment I fail, I will become you, is it? What should I do exactly?”
“I even went to Takachiho to find out the method. The real reason I reached my hands on Hyuga is not to build a Christian kingdom, but to search for the ‘entrance’ I went through the ‘second reincarnation’. Oh yeah. On the mountains of Takachiho, the ‘Ama-no-Iwato’ that the gods used during descending still maintained its ‘power’. Even without the help of the Three Sacred Treasures, it can function on its own until now—-that’s not correct,
Takachiho itself is the ‘Ama-no-Iwato’. The Three Sacred Treasures were created afterward in order to able to enter ‘Ama-no-Iwato’ at anywhere
through these ‘narrow’ doors.”
“Takachiho? According to Japan mythology, it’s the mountain where the gods from Takamagahara firstly descended huh. Which means the mountain of Takachiho is like a fixed telephone which couldn’t move, while the Three Sacred Treasures are like handphones!?”
“You probably can pass through it. I will bring you over there. If Oda Nobuna dies in Sekigahara, then there’s no room for negotiation anymore, I will bring you to there no matter what it takes. In order to guide me to this world, and ‘disappear’ from this world. At that time, you have no right to make a choice.”
“……..The result is I become you who lost most memories, doesn’t seem meaningful huh. Life cannot be repeated. If I had a grasp of that kind of shortcut, there would be the third time, and even fourth, it’s perpetual yo, Jasper. I’m absolutely not you. And I will prove to you in Sekigahara that my encounter with Nobuna only limited to once, there won’t be twice or what.”
“……..It’s better to say I’m expecting you to succeed, Sagara Yoshiharu. If I really am the second incarnation of you, then I who lost most of my memories every time I went through the ‘Ama-no-Iwato’, no matter how many times I reincarnated, Hosokawa Fujitaka who possesses the ‘Kokondenju’ will have the advantage. If we can’t find a way to maintain my memories entirely while return back in time, no matter to me or Oda Nobuna, it would be an endless cycle. Although I’m fine to go through the
transmigration no matter how many times.”
“……..If the matter of I am you is true, then when I die in Sekigahara, you should’ve disappeared at the same time. But if I died and you survived, then you are not me. Even so…..will you still enter the third reincarnation?”
“Of course. In that sort of situation, maybe it couldn’t be called the third reincarnation anymore, but I will still choose to enter.”
“For the sake of Nobuna, ‘I’ will definitely overturn the ‘fate’ by myself”, Yoshiharu stared at Jasper with anger. Either of them was trying to give in.
However, at this moment.
Manase Cilbal suddenly rushed into the room “Juubei-chan has woke up. She has a rare vitality that can live up to 200 years. The so-called life is such an unfair thing.” and reported. Then Yoshiharu rushed to Mitsuhide’s side with Nobuna’s letter in his hand.
In the short conversation between Sagara Yoshiharu and Jasper, they figured out how Hosokawa Fujitaka was intending to manipulate Oda Nobuna’s ‘fate’ through utilizing the power of ‘field’ reversibly. But Fujitaka had prepared his ‘final move’ on Mitsuhide in advance. If he took a little bit more time to talk with Jasper, then Yoshiharu might notice it. However, now they were in the middle of a battle. The time was way too insufficient.
“Sagara-senpai. It’s been a long time since we met desu! Sorry to make you worried. My body condition has no problem anymore desu. I feel my body is full of energy after seeing your face! I will make preparation for a battle immediately!”
“Sorry for being late, Juubei-chan! This is a letter Nobuna wrote to you. The detailed instructions and map drafted by Shimazu Iehisa who came from Satsuma as reinforcement. Nobuna and I will go to Gifu Castle to save Nobuzumi, so we hope Juubei-chan depart from Kyoto to Matsuoyama located at the West of Sekigahara. If in case Matsuoyama was taken, then head towards Nanguyama located at the East.”
“Understood! Then in order to prevent from being discovered by the Mori sisters who are at Osaka Castle, I’m not going to move through eastern mountain circuit, but through the water path of Biwa Lake, pass through Nagahama and Oumi, then finally enter Sekigahara from the northern land street!”
How long has it been since he met with Akechi Mitsuhide?
Yoshiharu who came to Mitsuhide’s room (That’s great. Although I’m worried after hearing that she fainted, she’s looking better already. And her mind is clear and made a quick decision like always. She’s the Juubei-chan I know) felt assured after seeing her.
However, to Mitsuhide who facing ‘the problem of marriage with Hosokawa Fujitaka’ now. Moreover, Madam Maki and Imagawa Yoshimoto were imprisoned in Sakamoto Castle. There’s no way Mitsuhide won’t feel worried about these two matters. She forced herself to smile to not let me get worried. After noticing that, Yoshiharu can’t think of what to say against Mitsuhide. At this time, what should I say now?
Seeing that Yoshiharu went speechless, Mitsuhide mentioned the topic regarding the marriage.
“…….Sagara-senpai. I believe senpai heard about the proposal from Hosokawa Fujitaka-dono already……”
“Uh, yeah. I knew it just now.”
“Therefore, this instruction from Nobuna-sama was given before the situation of Hosokawa Fujitaka-dono appears in Tanabe Castle being known right?
Now the circumstances have changed completely. Is it really the best idea to carry out the original instruction? I, shall accept the marriage with Hosokawa Fujitaka-dono.”
“That won’t be the case. Nobuna will never order Juubei-chan ‘to get married with Hosokawa Fujitaka and then have peace’. Back to the topic, your mother was imprisoned in Sakamoto Castle. If we can reconcile, it would be easier to get back your mother, but……”
“That’s not it. It’s better to say she will scold me, ‘losing your priority for the sake of me. Are you considered to be a general fought along all this time to rejuvenate the Toki clan?’ She’s that sort of a person. ”
“Is that so. She’s an impressive person…….”
“If I follow the instruction and advance the army to Sekigahara, then I will act like I was angered by the matter of my mother being captured while declaring ‘I swear will take my revenge on Rokkaku Shotei by going all out in attacking Sakamoto Castle’, in the meanwhile, I secretly mobilize the Oda fleet to head East at night through the water path on Lake Biwa. That must be what my mother wishes me to do as well. But, there’s something worries me…….”
“The Nanban missionary, Jasper-dono said something weird”, Mitsuhide told Yoshiharu with a gloomy face.
“That person possesses the technique to predict the future, he said he saw ‘the future of Azuchi Castle on fire’ by using the platonic solid. He also said the ‘fate’ of ‘destruction’ is awaiting Nobuna-sama……..does senpai who comes from the future, also know about this? The building built by Nobuna- sama to symbolize Tenkafubu, Azuchi Castle will be on fire, this ‘future’ is coming soon. Is that true?”
Right now, I, Nobuna, and Mitsuhide are standing at a very important intersection, Yoshiharu noticed that. Therefore he didn’t want to deceive and betray Mitsuhide here, he didn’t want to be perfunctory in this matter. Thus. The ‘future’ is uncertain, it’s flowing. But, for the ‘future’ that Jasper saw to become true has a very high chance in this goes on……..Yoshiharu gently put his hands on the shoulders of the timid Mitsuhide and whispered her.
Since it was hard to ensure there was no one here eavesdropping them.
“…….It’s true……..Sagara-senpai, to overturn the ‘fate’ of ‘destruction’ that’s awaiting Nobuna-sama, you always, always are fighting alone. Then
everything can be explained desu…..”
“That’s not right. No matter when, I’m not alone. Because Juubei-chan, Hanbei, and others, many companions are supporting me. That’s why I can survive in this cruel Sengoku Era until now.”
“……..Sagara-senpai. Hosokawa Fujitaka-dono knows of the ‘future’. And Fujitaka-dono intends to eradicate Nobuna-sama from the ‘history’. Even if
the decisive battle in Sekigahara happens as we planned, I’m afraid Nobuna- sama will face defeat anyway……Fujitaka-dono, in order to defeat Nobuna- sama in the battle of Sekigahara, he probably prepared various kind of
tactics.”
“Juubei-chan?” Yoshiharu stares at Mitsuhide’s expression. It is still the usual cheerful smile.
“Sagara-senpai? If it can avoid the ‘future of Azuchi Castle on fire’ that Jasper-dono said of, I will get married to Fujitaka-dono. As long as senpai you told me to, I will send the approval letter to Fujitaka-dono immediately desu.”
“No, wait. This is…….Juubei-chan!? That kind of words is not meant to be said with a cheerful smile…….”
“This time, senpai went straight to Nobuna-sama’s side to help right after coming back from Kyushu, this makes my mind clear finally. No, I’m just persistently unwilling to face reality, senpai always being honest to me. Your heart belongs to Nobuna-sama right from the beginning. Nobuna-sama will face destruction at the end and dies before she accomplished the ambition of Tenkafubu, senpai knew it right from the beginning. That kind of fate, I believe anyone would also want to overturn it desu.”
No. Not only Nobuna. I also want to rescue you from the ‘fate’ of ‘the incident of Honnou Temple’. How can I bear with that? Although as a man, the person I love is Nobuna, but that feeling is not a lie. Yoshiharu wanted to tell Mitsuhide so. However, looking at Mitsuhide who was going to get crushed by various burdens, he couldn’t reveal that cruel ‘future’. Mitsuhide’s heart would be broken entirely. That beautiful smile was a disguise to let me feel assured, Yoshiharu noticed it already.
“Senpai? Senpai met Sagara Yoshihi-dono, your family by chance in
Kyushu. I’m not required to play the role of your mother anymore desu. So I have to get married to Fujitaka-dono. In that way……the troublesome triangular relationship that bothers Nobuna-sama and senpai will be solved.
Nobuna-sama’s ‘future’ can be avoided as well. The moment I become Fujitaka-sama’s wife, I will hold the dominance and hand over the position of the emperor to Nobuna-sama’s hand. And then senpai becomes a stepson of Konoe-sama, assume the post of Kanpaku and get married with Nobuna- sama. The ceremony would be carried out in a church under the Azuchi Castle. Everything will proceed smoothly.”
Because in the eyes of Mitsuhide who was trying her best to show a smile, tears can be seen flowing out of it.
“Listen up, Juubei-chan. You seem to have some misunderstanding. Not only Nobuna. The ‘fate’…….. the ‘fate’ of Nobuna’s and yours is like the surface and the inside of a mirror respectively, it’s inseparable. Oda Nobuna and Akechi Mitsuhide, the two of you belong to one. No matter which side is lost, the other side will follow the step as well. To abandon Juubei-chan here, I can never do it! Even if we know what our endings are awaiting us, the three of us must fight till the end, against our ‘fate’!”
“………..Yeah. Senpai knows a gloomy ‘future’ is awaiting me. I’m really happy with what you said desu, senpai. But even if we were to be separated, I will still admire senpai in my entire life. Therefore……”
She can’t be persuaded anymore!? But if I allow Juubei to get married with Hosokawa Fujitaka right now, I, Nobuna, and also Juubei-chan, we will have a permanent scar in our heart that can’t be erased. And the result is—-the ‘fate’ will go in a direction that Hosokawa Fujitaka wishes for sure. Most likely move on to ‘the incident of Honnou Temple’. That is the worst ending.
Yoshiharu doesn’t know what to do. The ideal of ‘picking up all fruits’ that he adhered to, and the idea of ‘as a man, he should only love one woman’, always contradicted with each other subtly. The contradiction produced from the subtle difference between his ideal and his feeling was now causing the ‘fate’ of Akechi Mitsuhide and Oda Nobuna to shift to a worse situation.
(What can I do, what should I do to persuade Juubei-chan? Goemon, what should I do right now?)
Yoshiharu holds Mitsuhide’s shoulders like praying for something, and then.
“Ahahahah! How praiseworthy……..Ojou-sama! I can’t see this anymore! Sagara-dono! As a retainer of the Akechi clan, I beg you with my life! Please get married to Ojou-sama immediately! If you refuse to, I, Saitou Toshimitsu will commit seppuku.”
Saitou Toshimitsu changed into white clothing (TL note: white clothing was worn when committing seppuku) and rushed into the room, she took out a blade while sitting quietly at the front of Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide as a demonstration.
If anyone saw her desperate face then they would know. Toshimitu who worked around in order to let Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu get married, if
Yoshiharu did not choose’ Mitsuhide, then she really intended to commit seppuku.
“Seppuku, this kind of thing!? I, I will never let Juubei-chan get married to Fujitaka, please don’t act on impulse!”
“Toshimitsu? Wait, wait for awhile desu! What’s with you intimidating senpai! If you do it forcefully, it would make senpai feel awkward…….that’s enough desu!”
“No, not enough! I’m afraid now is the final chance for Ojou-sama and Sagara-dono to conduct a marriage! If we miss out today, then when would it be the next encounter of both of you!”
“Don’t simply talk as you like, it’s futile desu! If you did this kind of thing, then it would turn out to be we kidnap senpai and rebel against Nobuna-sama!”
“……Uh, uh. Then leave the topic of marriage on next time. But Sagara- dono, you must at least leave a promise to Ojou-sama……! Now! Right here! Before my eyes! Please impregnate Ojou-sama! The child you born, I will raise him or her well as an excellent heir of the Akechi clan! Quick, hurry up!”
“How can we do that kind of thing in front of others! What’s with this brat called Saitou Toshimitsu!? Her loyalty against Juubei-chan went to a bad direction!? Goemon, what should I do at this moment~!” Yoshiharu didn’t know how to face the situation and couldn’t refrain from yelling.
“Uhwawawa! Toshimitsu! Senpai is spitting foam and going to fall down!
Please stop that bothering intimidation desu! I will be hated by senpai desu!”
“…….Hmph. For him to bewilder from such trivial matter, Sagara-senpai is unexpectedly kind of useless. Then I make a great concession, please have a passionate kiss with Ojou-sama! If Sagara-dono can’t even provide such little love to Ojou-sama, if you can’t even do that, then not only I will commit seppuku but also order the Akechi corp to dismiss and bring mayhem to the Western Army.”
“………Don’t say anymore, please stop saying it! This is, the worst ending that I could imagine in a limited range! Instead of doing that, why don’t you just kill me!”
“That’s enough, Toshimitsu! I understand your feeling! Senpai you too, you come from the future just to be killed by Toshimitsu right here, what’s with that!”
“Juubei-chan. For me and also Saitou Toshimitsu, although our conversation is quite indecent, but our feelings are the same. We also don’t want Juubei-
chan to sacrifice your own feelings and accept a political marriage you don’t want to.”
“……..Uh, uh. You are really shameless…….I know it, senpai. Then I will give the reply ‘Because I became a sister so I can’t get married for now, if I want to leave the Christian then I must go to Rome’ to Fujitaka-dono! And then I will go to Sekigahara as Nobuna-sama asked to and seize Matsuoyama!”
“………In that way, your engagement with Hosokawa Fujitaka is considered discarded! I got it!”
“We never have an engagement in the first place, I just ‘reject his proposal’.”
The wild actions of Saitou Toshimitsu, for the result, it seemed to have made Mitsuhide give up the thought of ‘getting married with Hosokawa Fujitaka’.
“Sagara-senpai. Well done desu. After seeing Toshimitsu went rampage, I have calmed down desu. As the right-hand man of Nobuna-sama, and also the Kinki Kanrei of Oda clan, before I lead the Akechi army to strive victory for the Western Army, I won’t say any words that trouble senpai and
Nobuna-sama anymore. As for our relationship, after we won this battle and created the ‘future’, let’s have a tea party to discuss. I will never confuse my personal feelings into this battle of competing for the world again. Please rest assured!”
Yoshiharu, (This smile is true. She’s focusing on the battle right in front of her. As expected, Juubei-chan’s mental strength is remarkable. This time, we really saved by Saitou Toshimitsu…….!) nodded.
“Thank you, Juubei-chan!”
“Then please mobilize immediately, Sagara-senpai! The route to Ogaki Castle is very dangerous. You depart from Biwa Lake along with me, okay? Until we reach the crossroad to Sekigahara and Ogaki Castle separate, the Nagahama Castle of Oumi, please let me protect senpai.”
Yoshiharu “Understood, then let’s go” just wanted to accept it. But then he realized, due to Mitsuhide fell from fever, the time he used in Kyoto exceeds he planned to be. If he didn’t go through the eastern mountain circuit which was the shortest route, then he might not make in time for the rescue of Gifu Castle.
“…….Sorry. I want to do that as well, but I must return to Ogaki Castle and then go to Gifu Castle to save Nobuzumi as soon as possible. Certainly, the land route is a little dangerous, but I will still return by the eastern mountain circuit.”
“……..Is………is that so……..that makes sense. Then wish you luck in your journey, Sagara-senpai!”
At this moment, the smile Mitsuhide used to greet with the future style, felt a little stiff.
But Mitsuhide didn’t let Yoshiharu and Toshimitsu notice the ‘crack’ that is opening rapidly in her heart. She couldn’t let anyone know she has such
thought. Because from now one, Mitsuhide must serve Nobuna well as ‘a good junior of Yoshiharu’.
“If Juubei-chan successfully controls Sekigahara, then Nobuzumi can be prevented from dying in battle, the Western Army will be the victory. We must be able to save Nobuzumi. And then the ‘fate’ of Nobuna, Nobuzumi, and also Juubei-chan you, I will pick up all of it without leaving out any one of them.
Mitsuhide desperately suppressesed the ‘crack’ that was overflowing from her heart while nodded with agreement.
“………Understood desu, Sagara-senpai. Please entrust everything to me!”
In a neighboring room, Jasper who had a deep premonition that Oda Nobuna and others were walking into the ‘trap’ Hosokawa Fujitaka prepared,
muttered: “Hope I’m just being too worried.”
“The mental state of Akechi Mitsuhide now was very dangerous…….or maybe, ‘the person that put Azuchi Castle on fire’, the person responsible for Oda Nobuna’s ‘fate’ of destruction, was none other than this Akechi Mitsuhide? Sagara Yoshiharu, even though you know of the ‘future’, why you can still put your trust on her? Or should I say……this is the ‘fate’? So no matter how we humans resist, we still can’t escape from ‘fate’ huh?”
Around the same time. In Kitanosho Castle of Echizen that was having a confrontation with the Echigo army led by Uesugi Kenshin of Kaga, a military discussion was being held as well. The main members were—-.
“A-A-A, a great trouble! The former Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru suddenly appeared in Tanabe Castle of Tango! And Rokkaku Shotei in Sakamoto Castle of Oumi starts barricading in it, he even captured Imagawa Yoshimoto as a hostage! The Nagashima Castle of Ise was also taken away by Takeda Nobutora, apparently, Mitsuhide fell down after being proposed by Hosokawa Fujitaka! There are enemies everywhere, it’s even worse than during the Honnya Temple Ikki breaks out at the time! Ah, that’s all, how unfortunate Ojou-sama is!”
Claimed as the number one brave general of Oda clan, the commander of the army in Northland battleline, Shibata Katsuie. She also generally called as Gonroku which changed to ‘Roku’ afterward. There was no one who could confront Kenshin other than Roku, being trusted by Nobuna and given the
task of becoming the ‘wall’ of Northland. Although her wisdom was not worthy to be a commander, but Kenshin was also a person that was not good in using tactics so it was an offset.
“Even though Sagara Yoshiharu-dono returned in time, so Ojou-sama hopes to keep hold the Gifu Castle she once has forsaken, but on the
contrary…….we are being contained at Echizen, while the people joining the Eastern Army is getting more and more. But we can’t separate out any troops for help in order to able to confront Uesugi Kenshin with sufficient troops. Two points for the situation.”
The deputy of Shibata Katsuie was the person that acted like an elder sister to Nobuna, the kind Niwa Nagahide. She was something like a secretary of Nobuna for a long time, after becoming a general, she focused on fortifications and domestic affairs. She was the person that made a great contribution in building the Azuchi Castle. But actually, she looked more than terrifying than Katsuie when getting angry.
“………Echizen crabs, it’s delicious……….um um……..this is an important matter to Ojou-sama. We must eat to replenish our stamina” swinging her spear while biting on the crab without removing its shell. The overrun ‘little girl’, Maeda Inuchiyo. She was also a secretary of Nobuna before rising up, and now she was a sworn sister of Nobuna at the same standard as Tokugawa Ieyasu.
“Hun. Everyone, Nobuna-sama changed her strategy by pulling the Eastland battleline back to Gifu Castle in order to save Nobuzumi, in this goes on we will be defeated. In Kyoto and Ogaki, Yoshiharu-san and Nobuna-sama must’ve been taking actions respectively, so we must also hurry up to correspond with the rapid change of the battle.”
Plus with the ‘current Kong Ming’, that explanation was not needed, the tactician, Takenaka Hanbei.
Hanbei opened up the map of Japan, along with Inuchiyo who kept yelling “Wow, wow” started deploying the pieces of the Eastern and Western Army on it. Because the battle line had expanded to the case where verbal alone was hard to let Katsuie grasp the battle situation, so she couldn’t be helped but resort to visualize it which made the explanation easier to understand.
“First is the Nagashima Castle of Ise, it’s too far from Echizen, so we can’t send troops there. I believe Nobuna-sama and others can handle it well.
But—-the Tanabe Castle of Tango cannot be ignored. The formerly known as the hero who personally swings his sword to battle, the Kengou Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru-sama is ‘an Imperial piece’ that greatly surpasses the current Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshiaki-sama. If we leave him alone then people from the Northland to Sanyin will join the Eastern Army successively. We have to send a large army from Echizen to surround the Tanabe Castle immediately to prevent the rebellion of local people, if possible, we have to
take it down even if it’s to attack by force.”
Hanbei had hardened her heart and sent Tsuda Nobuzumi to Gifu Castle as ‘death soldier’. At first, due to the return of Yoshiharu, the chance to save Nobuzumi emerged in an instant, but now that chance was disappearing.
This was the only thing must be prevented, due to the frowning Hanbei explained “To surround the Tanabe Castle completely and take it down with a short-term battle, it needs at least 15,000 troops”, Katsuie and Nagahide were bewildered.
“Eheheh. That’s too reckless! The troops in Kitanosho……uhm. It’s around, that’s right, it will decrease to half! Apparently, Kenshin’s disease was cured. Once she learned our defense in Echizen was weakened, she will definitely attack with Kitanosho Castle as the target!”
“Moreover, what should we do about Hosokawa Fujitaka-dono who possesses the ‘Kokondenju’ inherited in the bloodline and barricading in Tanabe Castle, Hanbei-dono? Based on what the messenger came to Echizen from Yamato Imperial Court said, that book is indispensable to Yamato Imperial Court, just like the Three Sacred Treasures, it can never be destroyed. That book is like a hostage against us. Five points.”
“Niwa-sama. We live in the human world. Compared with books, humans are more important. I don’t care even if the ‘Kokondenju’ was burned! The
Imperial Court won’t fall anyway. Instead, the ministers were bound by the curse named as ‘Kokondenju’. I don’t know what’s recorded on it, but its content, how should I say—-just like the barrier of Mount Hiei, it’s something meant to abandon. To the new human world that Nobuna-sama is going to create, it’s a useless ‘past’, we should overcome it! Hosokawa-sama thinks that as long he has ‘Kokondenju’ in hands then no one will attack Tanabe Castle. However, we will attack with full force! If being asked whether the ‘Kokondenju’ or Nobuzumi-sama should be protected, of course it is Nobuzumi-sama! It’s funny and ridiculous for me who was once sent Nobuzumi-sama to the death land in order to save Nobuna-sama who was pushed to a desperate situation in ‘the collapse of Shitarahara’ to say
this………but if burning the ‘Kokondenju’ can save Nobuzumi-sama from the death land, then no matter what stigma is going to bear, I will still do it!”
“Ohohoh. Hanbei’s performance of today is so amazing just like Matsunaga Hisahide…….” Inuchiyo had her eyes filled with tears, as for Katsuie who was touched by Hanbei’s resolute determination,
“I’m not very clear of it, but I got it! Just say it’s me that ordered to burn it as the chief commander, Nagahide! Go ahead!”
And then knocked on Nagahide’s shoulders with a loud noise sounded.
“Aiyo!? Katsuie-dono, my hand dislocated! By the way, why am I the one to attack Tanabe Castle? Eight points.”
“Because Nagahide is the lord of Wakasa province right? You are familiar with Tango, right? Since Wakasa is a neighbor province of Tango.”
“To be honest, I have no relationship with Tango at all……..but, oh well. If Katsuie-dono left Kitanosho Castle, then no one can rival that military god, Uesugi Kenshin. So I would be going to Tanabe Castle. That would be full points isn’t it, tactician-dono?”
“Yes, please do, Niwa-sama”, Hanbei took a heavy breath with a smile after the long conversation was finally over.
“But Kobayakawa Takakage, that bastard. For her to summon the Shogun from Ming dynasty along with Wokou, she actually used such surprise tactic! How did they land on Tango without us knowing?”
“Shibata-sama. Actually, this is the same as the tactic Ootomo Sourin used when having an intense battle with the Mori clan at North Kyushu—-during that time, Yamanaka Shikanosuke-sama was requested by Sourin-sama to commence a surprise attack at the rear of Mori, then she led the fleet to attack Izumo from Oki islands with the help of pirates. The provinces of Mori army were in disorder due to the surprise attack from the rear by Shikanosuke-sama, and then the Mori forced to retreat completely from Kyushu battleline.”
“I see. It’s Oki islands~!”
“Therefore, for Kobayakawa-sama to use the trick of landing by surprise from Oki islands, this is very possible”, Hanbei gently flickers the feather fan to cool down her sweating chest.
“Well, Nagahide goes attacking Tanabe Castle won’t bring any trouble. As long as I do the job of a hundred people well!”
“It’s not enough if you can’t bring out the battle power of 15,000 people, Katsuie-dono. Minus 14,900 points.”
“Ahahah. I received the lowest score from Nagahide until now~!?”
“………Even if Inuchiyo and Katsuie, each of them can replace 1,000 people is still, no good……..the troop numbers are still insufficient……..what should we do?”
Against Inuchiyo who slightly tilting her tiny head, Hanbei answered: “That’s right”.
“The surprise attack from the sea of Oda territory, I’ve anticipated that. So I have resorted a corresponding method already. We just have to play that card.”
“Wh-Wh-What card!? Request reinforcement from Ootomo Sourin of Kyushu, from Date Masamune of Oshu, or from Chosokabe Motochika of
Tosa…….all the diplomatic cards that Oda clan can play is finished already, right? Hanbei!?”
“That’s not all, actually there’s one more card. The portion for the troops we reduced, we just have to make the Echigo army follow by reducing as well, Katsuie-sama.”
It was exactly because of Hanbei’s gentle and warm smile that made Katsuie trembling over her whole body. Right now, the unpredictable wise men of all over Japan are fighting with their wisdoms with Japan as their stage………thinking about it, I am the only general that can duel with Uesugi Kenshin in this Oda clan, I must guard this Kitanosho Castle from Uesugi Kenshin! Katsuie had her battle morale rising up.
But there ws one person showing unsatisfaction in her face, she used her index finger to poke at Katsuie’s breasts.
“…….Uh……..the duel with Uesugi Kenshin……please leave it to me, Inuchiyo.”
“Aiyoyoyo? It’s very painful~! What are you doing, Inu-chan!? How is your speech related to the action of your finger!? Beware that I will throw you into a pot, cook well and eat you!”
“……..I just feel, very unsatisfied. This time, I will definitely prove that the strength of a maiden general has no relationship with the size of breasts.”
“That breast lover monkey is the only person that would spit such ridiculous things! Besides, even though you ate lots of crabs after came to Echizen, but that kind of things won’t make your breasts to grow no matter how much you eat!”
“……..Hmph. As expected, only milk do……..too bad.”
Looking at their usual behavior, Nagahide smiled bitterly, “Alright. I’m going to Tanabe Castle now. If Fujitaka-sama changed his mind of proposing to Akechi-dono to me instead, then that would be an ending with a full point. I really don’t want to see the Tanabe Castle turns into a sea of blood. Since I’m just an unmarried young maiden” while standing up elegantly—-
“Uhm. Is Niwa-sama, very young?”
“Yes, I’m young! Hanbei-dono, minus points!”
Niwa Nagahide headed to Tanabe Castle of Tango—-the Kitanosho army at Echizen splited into two, the troop number reduced by half. Moreover, it took just only a few quarters for the ninjas to sneak into Kitanosho Castle to deliver this message to Uesugi Kenshin.
“The key of this battle holds in the hands of the military god of Echigo, Uesugi Kenshin, that won’t be wrong. No matter how many sacrifices us Northland army of the Oda clan have to pay, we must prevent the Echigo army from meeting with the Mori-Takeda army!”
Takenaka Hanbei and Uesugi Kenshin. The intense battle between the representative of ‘wisdom’ and ‘strength’ of Sengoku Japan unfolds.
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