The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 112

At the same time, he ordered the rear to transport 1,000 shi of military rations and a large amount of supplies and ammunition to prepare for a protracted war.

In terms of formalities, arrangements still need to be made for those who have "abandoned darkness and turned to the light," such as Himura, Hirata, and Kuroi.

Even though there's nothing to talk about, we still have to adopt a respectful and courteous attitude.

The three small wealthy families were all ignorant country folk who dared not dream of building a great business with Tanba Zhongkui. Their only wish was to send their youngest son to Kohama Bay to acquire a small business and leave a way out for their families.

Masatsugu Itsumi explained that these people, while ostensibly local lords, also held the identities of fishermen and merchants, and had even previously worked as river pirates, only being forced to give up due to their inability to compete with Yamato Nagasawa. Therefore, their demands differed from those of ordinary samurai.

Shinzaburo thought to himself, since he was making a living on Kubo's territory anyway, as a samurai he had to perform military service according to the accounts, and as a businessman he had to obey the arrangements of the magistrate and the official merchants. There was no room to exploit loopholes in the system.

Thus, they initially established a foothold on the northwestern coast of Tango Province.

Instead of launching an attack, they waited to see how their allies moved.

First, Naito Munekatsu, the governor of Tan Province, will definitely continue his offensive in the southeastern part of Tango Province. This isn't because he wants more territory, but because he needs to win over the powerful clans within Tanba Province by distributing spoils of war, thus promoting unification.

The Kasa and Yosa districts in the southeast are the heart of Tango Province, so Isshiki Yoshimichi will definitely prioritize defense there.

At that time, Shinzaburo will be able to gain an advantage.

Secondly, isn't there also an expected reinforcement from Tajima?

The Yamana family's pace was slow, but Shinzaburo was not in a hurry either. He ordered the army to stay put, eat their provisions, and wait for orders, while sending men to carefully scout out the enemy's situation.

On March 14th, Yamana Yutaka finally arrived with his troops as promised.

This military expedition was nominally ordered by the shogunate to subdue the powerful retainer of the Isshiki family, the guardians of Tango Province. Therefore, Yamana Yutaka was able to use the shogunate's authority to command all the samurai in Tajima Province, which at least strengthened his internal authority to some extent.

However, when Shinzaburo personally went to see the allied forces' lineup and learned about their approximate numbers, he was instantly stunned.

The Tango governor, Yamana Yutaka, had 600 men; the Tajima governor, Daigaki Yasushige, had 800 men; and the remaining five reserve units, namely Tadakyu-sho, Otagaki, Yagi, Tadakyu, and Shioji, each had between 200 and 400 men.

The total is 2,840. This includes support staff.

This mobilization is absolutely terrible!

Shinzaburo initially thought that the Tajima people might be deliberately not putting in their best effort, but after sending someone to investigate, he discovered that this was their normal practice.

According to numerous eyewitness accounts, last year, Yamana Yutaka attacked Takeda Takanobu in Inaba Province with an army of 3,600, but suffered a crushing defeat. Therefore, this year's mobilization capacity is significantly reduced, and they can only muster less than 3,000 men.

How many soldiers did Takeda Takanobu, who occupied half of Inaba Province at the time, have? A little over two thousand.

Shinzaburo thought to himself that he had learned something new.

According to future World Heritage data, Malaysia has at least 120,000 tons of rock, and there are also natural silver mines in the interior, as well as abundant fishing and salt production along the coast, so its scale is not small.

They only managed to produce a little over three thousand soldiers; their control over the situation is far too poor.

Moreover, it wasn't just the Yamano family, the guardians of the mountains, who lacked mobilization ability; the other important retainers were also quite incompetent. For example, Ōtagaki Terunobu, who occupied the Asagi district and effectively controlled the Ikuno Silver Mine, had just presented silver and received the title of Teru from Ashikaga Yoshiteru. It was the time for him to make a big show of his power, but he only managed to muster a little over four hundred men.

It can only be said that the looseness of Tajima Province was systemic; the governors could not control the senior officials in each county and city, and the senior officials could not control the local gentry and landlords.

Compared to them, the Naito family, the former governor of Tanba, could be considered heroes. At least they issued a military service order, and the Funai district alone could raise two thousand peasant soldiers to fight a bad war.

Historically, the indigenous forces of Hōki, Inaba, and Tajima provinces were not only powerless against the Mōri and Oda clans, but also suffered repeated defeats against Yamanaka Shikasuke's Amago Restoration Army. Now, the reason is finally clear.

Shinzaburo seems to understand how Liu Bei felt when he looked at Liu Zhang. A great territory was right in front of him, and he was really itching to get it, but he lacked a legitimate reason to take action. He really needed to plan things out carefully.

211 I'll handle the fighting, you go make the money.

Despite their inner grumbling, the Yamana family is now an ally of the shogunate, and must be treated with courtesy.

At the military council meeting, Shinzaburo greeted each of the high-ranking samurai of Tajima Province.

Yamana Yutaka himself, needless to say, wore a smug and confident expression today. He probably felt that by relying on this operation, he could get closer to the Ashikaga family, strengthen his legitimacy in ruling the domain, and thus secure his position.

In short, their thinking is stuck in the previous era.

The second-ranking family was the Tajima governor, the Kagaya family. Their head was over seventy years old and naturally unable to go on the expedition. The general leading the team was their second son, Kagaya Mitsunari.

Kakiya Mitsunari has an honest face, but he speaks in a sarcastic tone: "I heard that Lord Kubo Sado's father and grandfather lived in the countryside for decades, and it was only recently that they finally found out his bloodline and returned to his ancestral home. It was really not easy."

It was basically a direct satire of Kubo's attempt to curry favor with the powerful.

Shinzaburo didn't seem to care, simply replying, "It was indeed not easy. If it weren't for the help of the Ashikaga and Hosokawa families, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to find our lineage again."

The implication is that the name "Sasaki" on my body was given to me by the shogun and the governor of the shogunate, so who do you think you are to question it?

Mitsunari Kakiya didn't seem to be a sharp-tongued person, and was momentarily speechless.

Shinzaburo, however, was not about to let it go. He teased those around him, saying, "But the Magaki-ya family claims to be descendants of the Kanmu Taira clan. As the deputy governor, they assist the Yamana family, which originated from the Kiyokawa Genji clan. Isn't that just like the Hojo Regent assisting the Kamakura Lord? They have the style of the ancients."

With just a few words, he subtly implied that the other party was a powerful minister who had rebelled against his authority.

Yamana Yutaka listened with amusement, but deliberately shook his head and said seriously, "Such an analogy is inappropriate. The Hojo family usurped the throne of Kamakura-dono, while the Kakiya family were loyal retainers."

His words elicited distinct reactions from the Tajima samurai in the tent.

Tajima Yoshiyuki and Shioji Kagoshi, along with Yamana Yutoyo, smiled and looked at Shinsaburo in a friendly manner; Yagi Toyonobu and Tajima Toyotaka, on the other hand, remained in agreement with Kakiya Mitsunari, their expressions unfriendly; and Otagaki Terunobu spoke up to smooth things over.

Factions, factions everywhere!

Therefore, it seems that Mitsunari Kakiya's sarcastic remarks about the Kubo family were not simply arrogant and rude, but rather a deliberate attempt to demonstrate his stance.

They deliberately oppose the famous families who guard Tajima Mountain in order to maintain their status as the "leader of the opposition".

Then there's no need to bother trying to win over Yagi and Tajiki, who are standing with Kakiya; a simple greeting will suffice.

What about Terunobu Otagaki, who was trying to smooth things over? Shinzaburo tried to talk to him, but found that the guy kept talking about the shogunate and was so immersed in the glory of receiving the title "Teirō" that he couldn't communicate normally with him.

As for the two who took the initiative to make amends...

Intelligence indicates that they had previously participated in actions against Yamana Yutaka, clearly indicating they were not loyal retainers. Their change in attitude today must have a reason.

Shinzaburo's gaze swept over them.

Tajisho decisively expressed his stance: "Since the beginning of the Ōnin era, the shogunate's discipline has been weak, the various provinces have fallen into chaos, and the Ashikaga family is also in turmoil. However, now that Lord Miyoshi Chikuzen has taken action, I believe that peace will surely come to the land. Although I only have a small amount of strength, if I can follow in his footsteps and contribute to this great undertaking, it will be enough to bring glory to my ancestors."

They made it perfectly clear that they just wanted to curry favor with powerful figures.

There's nothing wrong with that; a wise person knows when to yield!

Shioji Kagoshi's response was even simpler. He was a young man with a strong sense of chivalry, and he simply said, "Nisa Yamatosuke and I are sworn brothers. Seeing him having a smooth journey in Wakasa makes me feel the same way and I am happy to see it happen."

Shinzaburo had already met this person beforehand, so he simply smiled and nodded in return.

Shioshi Kadoya's territory was Futakata District, near Inaba in Tajima Province. It was one of the poorest mountain villages in Japan, with very little produce and not enough to support many people. As a samurai with limited knowledge and skills, he organized his fellow villagers to collect protection money on the San'in Ancient Road to improve their lives. He gradually built up his power and gained a voice within the loosely organized Yamana clan system, earning him the label of "mountain bandit."

It's not uncommon to set up roadblocks and collect money on trade routes, but usually, these are either backed by well-known temples or commissioned by powerful daimyo. For a country bumpkin without proper authority to act on his own is considered breaking the rules. However, in today's chaotic world, the fact that he has the ability to stand firm is a testament to his abilities.

The fact that he could become close friends with Nasa Yamatosuke suggests that they share similar ways of doing things. Ordinary samurai might not like this kind of chivalrous figure, but Shinzaburo welcomes all of them.

At least when they were conquering the world, they were useful.

Moreover, it can be put to special use right now.

……

Two days after joining up with the Yamana family, they received intelligence that Naito Munekatsu had once again led the Tanba army into southern Tango, and Isshiki Yoshimichi had also gone to meet them in battle.

Blocking Shinzaburo's path was a coalition of local lords from Kumano and Takeno districts, led by the Takaya, Nomura, and Matsukura families, numbering no more than 1,500, who were holed up in Kizu Castle, Yuike Castle, and Takefuji Castle respectively.

Kubo's army bribed a few insignificant local lords with a silver bullet offensive, securing stable landing conditions. Now it can no longer be considered an away game.

Therefore, the enemy had no intention of engaging in open battle and simply held their ground at various crossroads.

These three families are all local tyrants with territories exceeding three thousand shi (a unit of grain), and they are unlikely to surrender easily; the cost of bribing them would not be low.

Shinzaburo personally led the team to inspect the area. Kizu Castle was located at the fork of the waterway, Yuchi Castle was surrounded by rivers on three sides, and Takefu Castle was sandwiched between two rivers. All of these were difficult terrains to manage, but they could not be considered natural fortifications.

Moreover, the number of garrison troops was surprisingly small, unlike what one would expect from a situation where the entire family had been mobilized.

After a moment's thought, he ordered Itami Masatane to lead the Wakasa First Division to surround Yuchi Castle, and Kawakatsu Tsuguji to lead his troops to surround Kizu Castle. Neither of them was in a hurry to attack, but rather to maintain a stalemate.

Then Shinzaburo personally led over four thousand main forces to the relatively less troublesome Bamboo and Vine Castle.

The castle is bordered by a narrow river less than ten meters wide on the north and south sides, so the obstruction is not serious. Moreover, the height of the main castle is only about thirty meters above the ground, and the slope is relatively gentle.

With four thousand men, the chances of defeating four or five hundred defenders are still quite high.

As for the reinforcements from the famous Tajima clan?

Privately, Shinzaburo said to Yamana Yutaka: "Lord Yamana Kingo has brought his own money and supplies to respond to the shogunate's call this time, which is truly touching. If we were to participate in the siege, it would inevitably be a protracted and costly affair. So your troops will be responsible for clearing out the countryside. For example, those potential enemies hiding their identities."

The implication is that allied forces are being allowed to profit from the war by engaging in illicit activities such as arresting and arbitrarily taking people.

“Clear out potential enemies hiding in the countryside…” Yamana Yufeng understood instantly and immediately became interested, but after thinking for a moment, he frowned and said, “Our army has come in an honorable manner. The people of Tango Province have probably already fled into the mountains. If we pursue them, it will probably be in vain.”

“Instead of pursuing the common people, we should pay attention to the temples and shrines.” Shinzaburo gave a crucial reminder. “Why were the powerful retainers of the Tango Isshiki family able to successfully hold the young lord hostage and fight against the shogunate? Perhaps it was because they had the support of the local monks.”

“This…” Yamana Yufeng, a devout follower of the Rinzai sect, changed his expression and shook his head in a troubled manner. “Even if there are a few corrupt and degenerate individuals, I believe that most of the eminent monks and virtuous people in temples and communities are still pure and upright.”

“You’re right!” Shinzaburo nodded sharply in agreement, then smiled slightly and slowly said, “That’s precisely why we should investigate thoroughly which temples and shrines are corrupt and decadent, and which ones are virtuous and upright. When the time comes, we should punish the evil monks who do not submit to the emperor’s rule and issue bans to the righteous and courteous temples. Isn’t this exactly what a samurai should do?”

“Ah…you are quite right.” Yamana Yutaka’s eyes flickered, seemingly somewhat tempted, yet still carrying a hint of doubt. “However, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to entrust this matter to Lord Kubo Sado’s trusted retainers?”

“That’s not appropriate. Because—” Shinzaburo stated his intentions frankly, “I hope to take charge of the Kumano and Takeno districts of Tango Province in the future, and it is not advisable to make too many enemies.”

The implication is that, since the famous Tajima family has no ability to acquire the land in Tango, it's okay to offend the locals.

Yamana Yutaka was taken aback for a moment, probably not expecting such a sincere answer.

Shinzaburo pressed his advantage, lowering his voice to say, "Actually, several Tajima samurai have privately approached me, requesting to be assigned to the countryside to exterminate them. If Lord Yamana Kingo were to follow the will of the people and personally lead the team, he would surely gain their support."

"Hmm, I understand..." Yamana Yuuyuki still frowned, still harboring some doubts.

However, given the circumstances, he couldn't refuse Shinzaburo's suggestion.

212 The New Generation of the Kubo Family

Shinzaburo smiled with satisfaction as he watched the Yamana clan's army sharpen their swords and charge towards the surrounding temples and shrines.

Why is he always able to persuade Yamana Yutaka so easily?

Because they genuinely considered the issue from the other person's perspective and frankly explained their intentions.

Leading Tajima soldiers to extort money from temples and shrines is indeed the best option for Yamana Yutoyo at present. Not only can he make some income, but he can also win the loyalty of the soldiers.

Whether the locals will have any opinions is not important.

Yamana Yutaka is too busy managing Tajima to even get involved in Tango, so why should he care about the opinions of the people of Tango?

For Shinzaburo, this is equivalent to having someone help him clear the mines, which will make it much easier to implement his rule in the future.

Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?

The only potential problem is that some samurai might become jealous and want to join in robbing the monks' money and belongings instead of working hard to fight and conquer the city.

However, no one dares to criticize it in the short term.

The memory of Shinzaburo personally leading his elite troops to defeat the Asakura army last year is still vividly etched in the minds of everyone involved. Unless he suffers an unprecedented defeat in the future, or waits a long time to erase his memory, most people would not dare to disobey orders.

In any case, in future plans, any samurai who demonstrates any merit will definitely be treated well and will not have any disloyalty because of the issue of rewards.

After watching his allies leave, Shinzaburo began to plan his attack on Bamboo and Rattan Castle.

The castle is surrounded by small rivers to the north and south. The main gate is located on the gentle west side, while the main castle is located on the relatively steep east side, with a stepped outer shape.

Before issuing the military order, Katsuhisa Awaya took the initiative to speak, saying, "Since the samurai of Higashiwakasa Mikata District joined Lord Kubo Sado's ranks, we have never had the opportunity to demonstrate our martial prowess before you. We hope that this opportunity will be granted today!"

Shinzaburo thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement.

He then instructed Awaya Katsuhisa, along with Matsumiya, Kumagai, and others, to lead the Wakasa Sixth Division to undertake the main force attack on the west side of Takefusa Castle.

Then, Hongo Kunitada's Second Division in the north and Ichikawa Sadaharu's Third Division in the south launched feint attacks across the river.

The rest of the people, including the fourth and seventh divisions of Wakasa and the Ōmiya Castle troops, were all considered to be Kubo's direct forces and moved to the east to carry out operations.

The plan was to ultimately achieve victory by breaching the enemy's back door.

The eastern slope of Bamboo Rattan Castle is the most treacherous, with an estimated angle of 30 to 45 degrees, accessible only by a winding path. However, the back gate is less than 50 meters above the ground, even within range of arquebuses.

Therefore, this route is the preferred point of attack.

Considering that the defenses on the west, north, and east sides are not very strong, it can be understood that there are no auxiliary attacks and all attacks are the main attacks. If any side makes an effort, there is a chance to be the first to break through the city.

Generally speaking, the coastal province of Tango is dominated by low hills, and its terrain is far less precipitous than Tanba or Wakasa. Most of the mountain castles seen so far are not more than 100 meters above the ground, and their defensive capabilities are incomparable to those of the Utsu clan's Gakuyama Castle in its heyday.

At least for now, the three cities facing Shinzaburo are only a matter of time before the real trouble lies in dealing with the subsequent security situation.

In this regard, the first step is to take a city head-on to prove strength, and the second step depends on the performance of our allies, Yamamami.

……

Before the army could be deployed and an attack had even begun, two retainers came to Shinzaburo requesting an audience.

Kumataro and Hashibei, the only two people allowed to use the "Kubo" surname, were relatives from the village back then.