"—In my personal opinion, the damage that Mino Province and the Oda family will suffer from now on is expected to be extraordinary."
A low voice echoed in the dimly lit room, even though it was daytime.
"If that happens, even though the Takeda family has a close relationship with the Oda family...the Takeda family will definitely change their attitude. There is a very high possibility that they will push into eastern Mino."
Having quelled the rebellion that had continued until the previous year and established an unshakeable position in Mikawa Province, Tokugawa Ieyasu saw the faces of the close retainers who had supported him for many years reflected in his eyes.
The one speaking was Ishikawa Ienari, a general who held Ieyasu in high esteem. Both he and Ishikawa Kazumasa, who stood beside him, had pale skin and exuded an air of refined elegance.
However, they were also brave generals who followed Ieyasu, wielding spears themselves and achieving numerous victories in battle.
"If the Takeda were to appear, it would have a significant impact on our strategy. An alliance with the Takeda is essential to undermining the Imagawa's territory of Tōtōmi, but that would only be possible with the Oda family's influence behind us..."
Saying this, Sakai Tadatsugu, the leader of the Higashi-Mikawa group, struck his famous spear into the floor and continued, glancing at the man beside him.甕通槍Turtle and push
"If the Oda clan declines, our strategy will have to be changed."
"Then we should help Oda."
笹穂鑓SasaboyariSakakibara Yasumasa groaned as he thrust it into the floor.
"Those weak soldiers of Owari might have trouble with a hawk. But there's no way we'd be outmatched by one or two hawks—right?"
"Indeed"
Honda Tadakatsu, who was sitting next to Yasumasa, thrust his famous spear into the floor and shouted at Ieyasu.蜻蛉切Dragonfly
"We will win; there is no other way. It is regrettable, but in order for us to advance on our path to supremacy, we must rely on the Oda's help. Therefore, it would be best to assist the Oda now and pave the way for the Tokugawa!"只just
Watching his hot-blooded subordinates, Ieyasu smiled.
--This is Okazaki Castle in Mikawa, the main castle of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Just a short while ago, an envoy arrived from our ally, Oda Nobunaga, and asked for our cooperation in falconry.
Ieyasu initially led him to the guest room, then gathered his retainers in another room to discuss whether or not to grant the Oda family's request—but it seemed there was no need for discussion.
"Why don't you guys offer some dissenting opinions? This is falconry, you know? You could die... Honestly."
"This is outrageous! Our minds are already made up!"
Yasumasa rose to his feet in a fit of rage and, together with Tadakatsu, vehemently retorted.
"We will not die! We will only win!!"
Ieyasu sighed and looked at these young, fierce generals of his own generation.
It appears that his close associates are united in their desire to cooperate with the Oda family.
The Mikawa forces under Ieyasu's command were different from those of other provinces; they had an extremely strong sense of kinship and possessed a unity that led them to absolutely obey whatever he decided.
Ultimately, if Ieyasu refuses to send troops against the Oda clan at this point, that will be the final decision.
I'm actually 24 this year.
The extraordinary hero born in Mikawa ordered Tadatsugu, Yasumasa, and Tadakatsu to prepare for battle, and dismissed his close retainers.
"To win without dying... those are some pretty difficult things to say."
Ieyasu slowly rose to his feet and headed towards the room where the Oda family's messenger was waiting.
And as soon as he entered the room, he bowed his head.慇懃Ingin
By having the imperial court recognize his ties to the Minamoto clan, Ieyasu changed his family name from "Matsudaira" to "Tokugawa," and he now controls national and military affairs with a power that surpasses that of other provincial lords.辣腕Ratsuwan
Despite all this, Hirate Hisahide, who was serving as an envoy for the Oda family, was extremely humble towards him.
"Lord Hirate, I will respectfully accept Lord Nobunaga's request."
"Thank you very much. Now I can go home with my head held high."
Ieyasu's eyes shifted swiftly, and he fixed his gaze on Hisahide, who was prostrating himself. No, he was looking at Nobunaga's back through him.
For Ieyasu, Nobunaga was like an older brother, and he still thinks of him that way.
When he was six years old, his father, Hirotada, had submitted to the Imagawa clan to protect his family from the fierce attacks of the Oda clan, and as a result, Ieyasu was sent back to Suruga Province as a hostage.
However, things did not go smoothly in reality, and there were various troubles along the way, and as a result, he ended up at the home of Oda Nobuhide in Owari Province.
It was there that Ieyasu, then 15 years old, met Nobunaga, who had just married Kicho, and despite being a hostage, was taken to various places by him.
(There's no way I wouldn't respond to Lord Nobunaga's urgent request... Don't be so distant.)
With these thoughts in mind, Ieyasu asked Hisahide.
"Speaking of which, Lord Hisahide, I hear that Lord Asai of northern Omi also accompanied Lord Nobunaga on his falconry expeditions..."
"Y-yes"
"What kind of person could he possibly be?"
That was precisely what Ieyasu was interested in.
Ieyasu didn't know much about Asai Nagamasa, the leader of northern Omi.
It was something I didn't know much about, but was interested in.
"I have never met him in person, but I have heard that he is extremely resolute, courageous, and daring."
"Hmm..."
Ieyasu muttered this, then scratched his right arm with his left hand.
(So, he's of a level that even Lord Nobunaga would take him along on a falconry expedition...)
Falconry was truly a life-or-death struggle, a fight for survival—and it was customary to only bring along trusted companions when hunting.
In other words, the fact that Asai Nagamasa participated in Nobunaga's falconry expeditions is proof that he had earned Nobunaga's trust.
(—I'm jealous.)
Having reached that conclusion, Ieyasu let out a hollow laugh.
Hisahide was looking at Ieyasu with a surprised expression.
Seeing that face, Ieyasu's laughter grew even louder.
"Listen, Hirate-dono."
"teeth..."
"How unsightly a man's jealousy can be."
Upon hearing this, Ieyasu stopped laughing abruptly.
Indeed, Hisahide was bewildered by Ieyasu's ever-changing expressions, unable to fully grasp what was in his heart.
Ieyasu must have taken that into consideration as well. He slid closer to Hisahide and chuckled softly.
"Lord Asai is 22, and Ieyasu is 24... We're close in age. Don't you think it's fascinating to see people like us, who are a full generation older at 33, scurrying around Lord Nobunaga like satellites?"
Ieyasu grinned and narrowed his eyes.
However, Hisahide could only be utterly overwhelmed by his face, which gradually became expressionless like a Noh mask.
◇
"No, we can't see the hawk!"
Each time such a scouting report came back, I could feel the entire punitive force becoming unsettled.
Again, lights danced in the distant darkness , and soldiers with fishing nets braced themselves—but all they could see was the return of soldiers on horseback.行燈斑猫Andon Hanmyo
"We didn't see any hawks here either!"
I can see Nobunaga biting his nails and spitting them out.
He, too, is feeling considerable pressure from having lost sight of that hideous monster.
Thanks to Sakuma Nobumori's desperate attempt to hold them off, we managed to rejoin the punitive force and prepare to intercept the hawk—but now the hawk is nowhere to be seen.
"The surrounding trees had been mowed down, so there must have been a hawk there..."
According to the scouts, along the path that I and Nobunaga took, many trees had fallen and been crushed, and a powder-like substance was scattered about.大鋸屑sawdust
Many of the trees that make up this forest in northern Mino have thick trunks that suggest they are at least several hundred to several thousand years old.
It was toppled and destroyed in an instant; there was no other word for it but impermanence.
It could be said that this succinctly illustrates the fact that anything that has been formed over countless years can be shattered into pieces in a single moment .理Reason
"But there's no sign of the hawk that caused that destruction...is that it?"
Maeda Toshiie muttered something like that.
The hawk is probably hiding very close by.
And since the scouts haven't spotted Sakuma Nobumori, it's safe to assume he's already in the hawk's stomach.
In any case, his survival is hopeless.
Indeed, every time I thought about it, a strong sense of dread would overwhelm my body.
The thought inevitably crosses my mind: can we really defeat that hideous monster?
I shook my head, trying my best not to think about it.そのこと...
(If the general fears the enemy, the army will also fear the enemy.)
In that case, losing the crucial moment and ultimately losing one's life would be inevitable.
After we joined forces with the punitive army, the order Nobunaga gave was to "counterattack."
Indeed, instead of concentrating their forces in one place, they positioned their troops at regular intervals, with musketeers and net-casting units at the front, waiting impatiently for the hawks to strike—
"—They won't come, huh..."
Nobunaga groaned.
Unlike in games, there are no convenient tools that show you the location of enemies, like a hawk.
Furthermore, there is no reset button, meaning one mistake can lead to irreversible consequences.
The situation we're currently in has taught us a stark lesson about the importance of reconnaissance in battle.
If soldiers cannot see the enemy, they cannot attack, and all they can do is constantly sharpen their minds in a state of tension, only to wear themselves down in the process.
"Brother-in-law"
"What's wrong, brother-in-law?"
"Is it really okay for me to stay here like this?"
"Hmm..."
The presence of the spotted cat makes it easier to spot creatures moving on the ground.
However, since the interior of the forest is generally dark, it is difficult to see far into the distance.
And what's more, the opponent is a hawk.
Since it has wings, it is naturally assumed that it is capable of flight, and if it were to fly, it would not be illuminated by the light of the lantern-colored cat on the ground.
Although they were currently taking up positions according to Nobunaga's orders, if the situation of not being able to see the hawk continued, both the generals and soldiers would inevitably become exhausted.
"If I move, the hawk will sense my presence. But as long as it doesn't sense my presence, the hawk will not appear..."
Nobunaga frowned and muttered something like that—
"Lord Nobunaga, Lord Bizen-no-kami, unlike us humans, the thinking of a hawk is extremely simple."
Hideyoshi suddenly thrust his face forward and said:
"It is simple, so when we think about hawks, it is best to think simply."
"Keep going"
Nobunaga asked in a few words.
Hideyoshi bowed dramatically and opened his large mouth.
"A hawk's desires are limited to only three things: 'sleeping,' 'eating,' and 'mating'—and therefore, its actions are quite simplified in order to satisfy these needs."
I involuntarily swallowed.
Hideyoshi's way of speaking gives off a strong impression of someone who has recounted countless battles with hawks—that's the kind of nuance that permeates his words.
"But they are terrifying precisely because they are so simple. That is the nature of the hawk. That creature is surely waiting for the perfect hunting opportunity to devour us all—perhaps clinging to the trunks of trees."
On the tree trunk...?
Such voices escaped from the soldiers, and they began to raise their guard in a panic.
"Why are you so sure?"
"Well, I can only say that it depends on my own experience..."
Hideyoshi answered Nobunaga's question in that way.
"Before I was taken in by Lord Nobunaga, I wandered around various provinces... For a short period, I was employed in Hino and Ashigara Mountain, which were under the control of the Hojo family. There, I was repeatedly called upon to fight against hawks..."
The other members of the punitive force, excluding Nobunaga, were shaken.
Speaking of Ashigara Mountain in the Kanto region, in the world I came from, it was famous for being the location of the "Fuma Village."
The Fuma Ninja were not only responsible for all of the Hojo family's intelligence gathering, but they were also a "practical intelligence unit" that actually participated in battles.
I suppose in this world, in addition to the roles I'm aware of, they're also responsible for dealing with monsters.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain Nobunaga's surprised expression and the expectant looks on the faces of those around him.
When I visited Inabayama Castle, I recalled seeing Hideyoshi's figure quickly disappear into the trees.
That must be something he acquired while on Mount Ashigara.
"Lord Nobunaga's current strategy is a good one. There is no doubt about that... However, I, Hideyoshi, will slowly retreat while maintaining the current formation."
"..."
"In order to not miss the greatest opportunity in the battle against the hawk, it is also necessary to retreat."
Above all else, Hideyoshi continued.
"Hawks are simple creatures. Therefore, if their prey tries to escape, they will inevitably lose patience and appear before us. For that reason, we must retreat without breaking formation, so that we can intercept them at any time."
"Is that so?"
Just as Nobunaga was about to make a decision, another voice chimed in, "I cannot accept that."
"Lord Hideyoshi, what you're saying is the same as turning your back on a hawk and running away!"
As he spoke, a man with a burly physique, evident even through his armor, approached Hideyoshi.
He bowed to Nobunaga, then turned to Hideyoshi—
"To stay put until the very end, pinpoint the hawk's location, and then strike it down in a single, decisive blow...that is the best course of action we can take!"
He said it in a harsh tone.
While I was still taken aback, Hideyoshi calmly countered, "Lord Katsuie, that strategy is not the best course of action."
"The hawk is probably still watching us—hiding amongst the trees. If we continue like this, it will take advantage of a lapse in our concentration and attack us by surprise. I think it would be better to gradually withdraw our position and lure the hawk out."
"The forest that begins in Hida is vast. Lord Sakuma's valiant efforts may have caused even the hawks to lose track of our position. As long as that possibility exists, we should remain here and continue searching for the enemy with our scouts."
In response to Katsuie's assertion, Hideyoshi gestured with both hands towards the surroundings, which were completely shrouded in darkness, and said:
"So how do you explain the fact that the lantern-colored cats are becoming quiet? Does this indicate that there are no hawks on the ground?"
"That is precisely why we need to stand firm and then use scouting to locate the enemy. We must light the lanterns of the hawks in the forest and use their light to pinpoint their positions."
"The light of the lantern-colored cat cannot reach the tops of the trees, which have grown so tall that they block out the light! The hawk watches us from such darkness!"
"Stop it!"
I couldn't help but interject.
It seemed that neither Katsuie nor Hideyoshi had ever expected to be reprimanded by someone from the Asai family, as they both stared at me with bewildered expressions.
"This is a battlefield. This is no place for debate, and yet you're starting to divide opinions in the middle of a battle! It's fine to offer suggestions, but you can't let them become a source of conflict! The final decision rests with my brother-in-law... Lord Nobunaga! How dare you forget that and waste time like this!"
"--Now then"
Both Hideyoshi and Katsuie backed down when Nobunaga spoke after me.
"We'll retreat for now, maintaining our position—though I don't like it, we'll do it slowly. If the monkey is right, that should be how we can lure the hawk."
I don't particularly like fishing, but...
Saying this, Nobunaga ordered the entire army to retreat towards Inabayama Castle, maintaining their formation.
3,000 men began to move slowly, but steadily.
At that very moment—
A tremendous flapping sound of wings echoed.
"You're here!?"
Someone raises a warning, and everyone responds by bracing themselves.
As Nobunaga drew his sword, Hideyoshi, who had been peering into the darkness, appeared—
"—They're not hawks. They're a flock."蝙蝠bat
As he muttered that, the entire army seemed to relax.
However, Hideyoshi's next words immediately created tension.
"In other words, it's reasonable to assume that was struck—and that the hawk is steadily pursuing us."洞uro
◇
It was around the hour of the monkey (4 PM) when Naotsune and Haruhime, leading the Sugawa and Takenaka forces respectively, reached the vicinity of Inabayama Castle.
As evidenced by the fact that they assembled their forces and entered Mino in just two hours, both Naotsune and Haruhime were acting quickly due to a strong sense of urgency.
In particular, Princess Osamu had to summon her retainers at Bodaiyama Castle and explain the situation again—which gives us a glimpse into the energetic efforts she made.
Indeed, the two commanders on the Asai side stopped their troops and conversed on horseback to receive messengers who had come from Inabayama Castle to provide information.
"So, should I just continue north from here towards Inabayama Castle?"
"Yes. The punitive force that Lord Bizen-no-kami is accompanying should be encamped there."
The messenger was Nobukane, who had already returned to Inabayama Castle and informed the Oda side in advance of the Asai army's entry into Mino Province.
Apparently, despite being a senior figure in the Oda family, he volunteered to take on the role of messenger.
They must have rushed to make the arrangements. Wiping the sweat from his forehead and breathing heavily, Nobukane continued.
"However, naturally, the hunting party that went out on a falconry expedition is supposed to withdraw at night. There's nothing we can do at night since we can't see, and above all, falcons are nocturnal. We don't have the luxury of fighting in a situation that gives the enemy an advantage."
"Understood. Then—"
"Please wait a moment!"
As Haruhime and the others were about to turn on their heels, Nobukane hastily called out to them.
"And one more thing, Lord Tokugawa will surely send reinforcements for this falconry expedition, so please keep that in mind."
"Lord Tokugawa... Ah, of Mikawa."
"Yes. As he is a reliable ally of our Oda clan, I am certain he will also be a reliable ally of the Asai family."
Haruhime silently pulled on the reins of her horse. Following her lead, the Takenaka forces began to gallop, and the Sugawa forces followed suit.
Princess Osamu, clad in light armor, wore a man's battle surcoat over it, and had her dark brown hair neatly tied up.
Naotsune then positioned his horse beside her.
Haruhime said so that Naotsune could hear.
"Whether a friend of a friend can be considered my friend is something I cannot know until I actually meet them. And it is not us who will decide that, but only Lord Bizen-no-kami."
"That's right. That's precisely why we must devise a plan to help our lord on our own, in order to live with Lord Nagamasa and for the future of Omi."
"'To live in Omi tomorrow'...is that it?"
"That's right. It's a famous quote from our lord, and it's also the motto of our retainers. Lord Shigeharu, you should remember it too."
Haruhime could only manage a wry smile.
Sensing what lay behind that wry smile, Naotsune said, almost as if to put a stop to it.
"Let me make this clear: to 'live in Omi,' your origins are irrelevant. Those who gather and work under the Asai banner for the sake of our lord and for the sake of Omi...all of them become members of the Kohoku clan. Even Lord Shigeharu will now serve by Lord Nagamasa's side. Even though he was born in Mino, he will be a fine member of the Kohoku clan."
Then Princess Osamu made a somber expression,
"But I am a woman...and as Lord Naotsune has heard, I am also defiled. For someone like me to 'live in Omi tomorrow' is..."
"You fool!"
Naotsune retorted sharply.
"My lord isn't so narrow-minded as to worry about such things! Otherwise, he wouldn't be so attached to you that it would make me jealous!"
"J-Jealousy..."
Even Princess Chihime couldn't help but be bewildered by this confession, but he continued with a straight face.
"That's right! It's not just women and children who get jealous, men are the same! To be honest, having served by my lord's side for a long time, I cannot accept the current situation where my lord is showing interest in someone like you who just appeared out of nowhere! I know my lord better than you do, and I am prepared to die for him!! What do you mean, 'I willingly die'!!! We don't die to show it; for the sake of our lord, for the man we love, we will die in silence!!!!"
After letting out a thunderous roar, Naotsune's lips curved into a slight smile.
Then, reaching out from horseback, he slapped Haruhime on the shoulder.
The impact caused the matchlock gun that Princess Osamu was wearing at her waist to shake. From the box containing the bullets, something gleaming with azure silver could be seen.
"And the order in which people die is—starting with the elderly who have little time left. You are still young. You have plenty of time before you die and become the foundation of Omi."
"...You speak to me just like a father would."
"He is actually the father of three sons and one daughter, so there's nothing that can be done about it."
A beautiful, feminine smile spread across Princess Chihime's face.
As she seemed to have been freed from a burden, Naotsune nodded dramatically and glared straight ahead.
Those who gather in Omi under the banner of the Asai clan will join hands and conquer the entire land.
To make that future a reality, Naotsune's expression became even more stern as he glared at the forest ahead.
(Therefore, we must eliminate the threat of the hawk at all costs...)
Naotsune struck the horse's flank with his foot and let out a tremendous roar.