Reincarnated as a Warlord in a Sengoku Era - Chapter 8
Translator: Nisarah Editor: Nisarah
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Storm, Incoming
Koji 1st year (1555 A.D), 11th month, Wakasa Province, Nochiseyama Castle, Residence of Takeda clan.
Winter has come to Wakasa. I have heard that the Sengoku Era is also known as the time of the little ice age. Now that I have experienced winter here I understand why. It’s really cold.
Because war has been going on in the whole country, the capital decided to change the era name to Koji in hope that a new peaceful era will come, not that it will.
Denza and I are enjoying the braziers together in my room. Many things have happened in the past few months. First of all, the Mori clan won the Battle of Miyajima so it’s not an exaggeration to say that the Mori clan is the hegemon of the Chugoku region.
Both Ouchi and Amago have started to decline. The Amago clan without Amago Tsunehisa [1] who is known as the Master of Strategists is lacking. Actually, Tsunehisa’s grandson, Amago Haruhisa[2] isn’t half bad but he’s still lacking compared to Mori Motonari of the Mori clan, who is said to be equal to Tsunehisa in terms of strategy.
Plus, the only reason why the Amago clan can still stand strong all this time is that the Ouchi clan —Ah, no since the Sue clan overthrew the Ouchi clan it’s more correct to say the Sue clan—is keeping the Mori clan in a bay in the south. But the Sue clan collapsed. If this keeps up I’m sure that the Mori clan will conquer the whole Chugoku region like in the history book.
Genshirou who is sitting in front of me keeps chuckling. He must have gotten a huge profit from selling rice.
The rice that Genshirou gathered ended up being sold to the Sue clan. I guess if you use the water route, the Sue clan is closer. That Sue clan is currently in ruin though.
Even if it’s expensive I reckon the Sue clan has no other choice but to buy rice from Genshirou. You can’t go to war with an empty stomach after all. I don’t know the details of the deal that Genshirou and the Sue clan has done but whatever it is it looks like Genshirou had made a huge profit.
As proof, Genshirou gives me a 1 ft long wakizashi. He said it’s a meitou created by Norishige from Etchu Province. I pulled out the wakizashi and looked at its blade.
It was a thick and sharp wakizashi. I can feel how heavy it is. The small wave pattern [3] on its blade is also beautiful. I can understand the reason why Genshirou keeps showering the sword with praise.
“Etchu province has an abundant harvest this year so while I was buying rice, I discovered that treasure. Is it not a great sword?”
“It’s a great wakizashi. I feel it’s a waste for me.”
Even though I said that, even if that might be the truth, I’m still a boy. I love swords. I’m excited as this is the first time I have had my own sword. I’m afraid that I might get distracted by my first sword, so I handed it to Denza.
“As I have promised, I have given the weapons, armors, and provisions to Numata Kouzukenosuke-dono in Kumakawa. I have also conveyed to him your message. He said he will immediately gather people and began their military training”
Good. With this, by the time the new year comes, I will have 100 men under my command. Well, it’s not certain that Kouzukenosuke will succeed in gathering 100 people so I might be counting the chicken before it hatches. Still, I can’t help but think about it.
If I factored in the amount of time the soldiers need to train, I will need around a half year. First, I want to train the archers. After all, most death in a war is caused by arrows, stones, and other projectile weapons, with the number of deaths caused by close combat below it.
Other than the soldiers, I also need to pay attention to the discord between Father and Grandfather. Just how wide the rift between them has become.
“Genshirou. Please tell me information regarding the situation between my grandfather and my father.”
Of course, what I want isn’t general information like their hobbies and stuff but the information about how wide the rift between them has become and what kind of action has both of them taken against each other. Genshirou put his hands on his chin and thought deeply before saying, “It seems like your grandfather, Takeda Jibusho-sama has an intention to hand over the seat of the next clan head not to your father, Takeda Izu Kami-sama who is the heir but to your uncle, Saburou-sama.”
I see. Father will get disinherited. I doubt Father will obediently accept Grandfather’s decision so Wakasa will get tumultuous in the future. My prediction of Grandfather thinking that the relationship between him and the shogun is a troublesome thing that needs to be cut is now proven.
“Do you think my father can win?”
“I wonder. Other than Saburou-sama, Takeda Jibusho-sama also has the Takeda clan’s senior vassals such as Awaya Etchu Kami-sama and Henmi Suruga Kami-sama as his allies.”
“I see. So Grandfather wants Uncle to inherit him while Father wants Grandfather to retire. Their wants clash with each other. But really, to fight between families, are they not just inviting other provinces to attack Wakasa?”
I leaned on the armrest and sighed. Now then, how should I intervene in this civil war? If I carelessly intervene, I might be the one that ended up falling. The underlying problem is that Grandfather is sick of being controlled by the Ashikaga clan so he wants to cut ties with them. Should I follow Grandfather’s example and also cut ties with the Ashikaga?
No, unless I send Mother back to her maiden family, it’s impossible for me to cut my ties with the Ashikaga. If I did that I would turn the whole Kinai region into my enemy. Since cutting ties is impossible, how about I just drag the shogun deeply into the conflict? I can exploit my relationship with the shogun.
Then I should head to Kutsuki Valley where the shogun is staying. Kutsuki Valley is part of Kumakawa. If I stay in Kumakawa for 1 night, 2-3 nights should be enough for a round trip to Kutsuki Valley. That’s just how close the valley is. Ah, no, I can make a round trip in just 1 day if I go there with a horse.
“Genshirou.”
“Yes, what do you need?”
“Please prepare a present.”
“A present? For whom?”
“Do you even need to ask? it’s for the shogun-sama. Denza. sent a message to Uncle, the shogun-sama, that I will visit him to give a new year greeting. Tell the same message to Father and Mother too.”
“As your wish!”
I am the shogun’s nephew. It’s normal for me to give him a new year greeting.
After Denza bowed, he left the room. I faced Genshirou, laughed, then said, “Right, Genshirou. It seems like a war is going to start!”
“Oh my, is it not a good chance to make even more profit? Where is the war going to happen this time?”
“Of course, here, in Wakasa!”
[Current State of Affair]
Takeda Magoinumaru – 4 years old (Sengoku Era age)
Vassals: Kumagai Denzaemon, Numata Kouzukenosuke
Equipment: Wakizashi made by Norishige from Etchu
Position: Heir of Wakasa Takeda clan
Territory: None
Specialty: None
Currently Investing: None
Number of Soldiers: 0
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T/N:
[1] powerful daimyo who used to rule the Chugoku region https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amago_Tsunehisa#:~:text=Amago%20Tsunehisa%20 ?
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amago_Haruhisa ?