The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 44

After destroying the outer gate on the southwest side, the Tanba army stormed into the "Nishide Maru" of Awaga Castle, forcing the enemy to retreat to the "Ninomaru" line, which had the largest area.

This earned him unanimous praise from leaders at all levels.

However, the walls and city gates in front looked more solid and thicker than the outer layer.

Moreover, the terrain of the "Nishide Maru" was very complex, requiring several turns to pass through, and every space was very narrow, making it difficult to set up the launchers for the "fire arrows". The "Golden Dig Clan" also had no way to reach the detonation point by using the wagon.

Even placing the bamboo bundles was quite troublesome.

Conversely, the soldiers of the Bessho clan had a wide field of vision, and in addition to the "Ninomaru", the garrison of the "Honmaru" could also launch volleys down on them from a high vantage point.

This structure is called "tiger's mouth" and "horse's exit".

The former refers to obstacles that restrict the attacker's movement, while the latter refers to the defender's firing positions.

The "fire arrows" were not a national disaster, and their effective range was only a few hundred paces, so they could not bombard the "honmaru" and "ni-no-maru" of Awaga Castle from outside the city.

Therefore, the soldiers of the Tanba army could only passively take hits at the "Nishide Maru" and were completely unable to organize an offensive.

To make progress, we must first clear away the "tiger's mouth" nearby.

It would be best to destroy the "stone wall," that is, the stone foundation, together.

That would be an enormous amount of work.

Matsunaga Magoroku is in trouble again.

And this time, it seems even calling the parents didn't work.

However, he didn't have a headache for more than a few days.

Because, at the same time that the Tanba army captured the Nishide Maru of Awaga Castle, the Miyoshi family's young lord, Yoshioki, also captured two outer flanks of Uozumi Castle.

The Bessho clan of Higashiharima, unable to remain idle, dispatched 6,000 men from their stronghold, Miki Castle, to try and distract the attacking forces. However, they were blocked by Miyoshi Nagayoshi's 7,000 men. A fierce battle ensued, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

Meanwhile, ninety kilometers away, the Amago clan's Nishiharima was not making good progress. They were unable to capture the Urakami clan's stronghold and were instead attacked twice. It is said that they were considering giving up.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi seemed to believe that his strategic objectives had been achieved and that there was no need to continue the war, so he sent envoys to negotiate with the Bessho family.

The two sides quickly reached a general agreement, with only minor disagreements on the details.

The ceasefire order was quickly relayed.

……

Shinzaburo observed that the Tanba people's feelings were somewhat complicated.

Logically, having achieved results and received commendations, one should be happy.

However, upon closer analysis, the true protagonists of this battle were undoubtedly the large-caliber firearms and engineering units; the soldiers of Tanba were merely risking their lives to gain the opportunity to detonate the weapons.

This novel siege tactic left the mountain warriors in remote, impoverished areas completely bewildered.

Ultimately, the attack did not inflict serious damage on the Higashiharima Bessho family, and the conflict ended in peace talks, leaving many soldiers puzzled.

Shinzaburo, however, was quite understanding.

From a strategic perspective, the Miyoshi clan's core interests are currently in Kyoto, and their biggest enemies are also located in the Kinai region. It is not advisable to waste too many resources on the western front.

For example, the Rokkaku family of Omi Province, which took in Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Hosokawa Harumoto, had a mobilization capacity of over 20,000. Then there was the Hatakeyama family, the governors of Kawachi and Kii provinces, who, despite their constant decline, remained stubbornly persistent, like a centipede that never truly dies.

Ishiyama Honganji Temple also has a deep-seated grudge against the Miyoshi family, and they can only be said to be on the surface. Mino Saito, Echizen Asakura, and Ise Kitabatake all maintain contact with Ashikaga Yoshiteru and may join the "loyalist" movement at any time.

Putting everything else aside, let's just talk about my hometown, Tanba. Although we defeated Hatano, another Akai rose to power. If Matsunaga Nagayori continues to lead over two thousand men on expeditions, wouldn't they eventually capture Yagi Castle?

Knowing when to stop, quitting while you're ahead, and quietly making a fortune is the best approach.

085 Suddenly became the leader of the masses

The negotiations lasted three days, and the final result was that the Bessho family ceded Awaga Castle and acknowledged that the land on the east bank of the Awaga River belonged to the Miyoshi family. Both sides signed an oath, agreeing to maintain peace, and that any violation would be condemned by the gods and Buddhas.

The battle in Higashiharima thus came to an end.

The newly acquired territory was handed over to Matsuyama Shigeharu by Miyoshi Nagayoshi. This man was from Sakai-cho and had only joined the army ten years ago. His previous territory was in Nishi-Settsu, and he had always been under the command of Matsunaga Hisahide.

This appointment may indicate that the Matsunaga brothers have gained a certain advantage in the internal competition.

In summary, the Miyoshi family mobilized 40,000 men and spent countless amounts of money and food, only to capture one city and thirty or forty surrounding villages. It doesn't seem like they made a very good profit.

Of course, the other family suffered the most severe losses.

Meanwhile, in Nishi-Harima, the Amago clan's 30,000-strong army wasted 60 days without gaining much advantage over the Urakami clan. Their fighting spirit gradually waned, and they had no choice but to retreat.

The Urakami family repelled the invaders, which seemed like a cause for celebration. However, a victory in a defensive battle alone wouldn't bring much spoils. Moreover, the Ukita clan, who had distinguished themselves in the battle, would have to be rewarded.

In short, it seems like everyone is at a disadvantage in this battle.

However, its political significance should not be underestimated!

From a diplomatic perspective, Amago Haruhisa, the "Governor of 11 Provinces" of Izumo, responded to the call of the exiled Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru and sent troops eastward, but returned empty-handed after only two months. Miyoshi Nagayoshi, who supported Hosokawa Ujitsuna, not only easily repelled the "rebel army" but also forced the Bessho family, who had "followed the rebels," to sign a treaty under siege.

Sit down!

What a win!

The only pity is that Ashikaga Yoshihisa, a collateral descendant of the Ashikaga clan who had been staying at the Miyoshi residence, fled in fear after Miyoshi Yoshikata killed Hosokawa Mochitaka, the guardian of the Awa region.

We haven't been able to persuade them to come back yet.

The matter of enthroneing a new Generalissimo had to be postponed.

However, Hosokawa Ujitsuna, this "shogunate regent" whose title was not legitimate, did at least gain some recognition from the people of Kyoto.

About five kilometers south of Kyoto, where the Kizu River, Uji River, and Katsura River converge, lies Yodo-ko Castle, built by the Hatakeyama family of the Western Army during the Ōnin War. It is now somewhat abandoned.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi funded and restored it, using it as the residence of Hosokawa Ujitsuna. From there, he recruited a group of retainers who had not followed Ashikaga Yoshiteru into exile, and invited several court nobles with the qualification of "Buke Denhou" (a high-ranking official title for the military), thus establishing a very makeshift temporary central government.

Even a makeshift stage is better than nothing.

From a moral and ethical standpoint, this is also necessary.

It is at least necessary in the eyes of those who value traditional rules and regulations.

Because at present, Miyoshi Nagayoshi is just a "Deputy Guardian of Settsu".

His three younger brothers, Yoshikata Miyoshi, were the "Awa Guardian Generation", Fuyuyasu Ataka, the "Awaji Guardian Generation", and Kazutsugu Togo, the "Sanuki Guardian Generation".

The guardianship duties of these four provinces originally belonged to the Hosokawa family, but they were divided among different branches.

As for places like Yamashiro, Kawachi, Izumi, and Tanba, although large tracts of territory were under the actual control of the Miyoshi family, legally they could only be affiliated with Hosokawa Ujitsuna.

Although Hosokawa Ujitsuna's title of "Shogunate Kanrei" wasn't particularly prestigious and wasn't widely recognized by the various daimyo, he was still the grandson of the former powerful figure Hosokawa Masamoto, a "half-shogun," and thus held some prestige within the Kinai region and the Hosokawa family's traditional sphere of influence.

Although he is not a biological grandson, he is the adopted son of an adopted son.

……

The complex and ambiguous political relationships involved were something Shinzaburo didn't understand when he was a history enthusiast in his previous life, and he was equally clueless when he first transmigrated to this life.

It was only recently, after my status rose, that I was able to hear some rumors coming from higher up, and that's how I gradually came to understand things.

Especially the sharing from Matsunaga Magoroku.

But Shinzaburo doesn't think he needs to pay attention to these things in the short term.

They simply treated these words as anecdotes from officialdom, listening to them casually.

His current thought is to manage his base in Kubo Village and Gokurakuji Territory well, help Matsunaga Nagayori suppress his two major enemies, Hatano and Akai, and strive to obtain more Chikyoku stipends.

Therefore, during the withdrawal, Shinzaburo returned to work ahead of schedule.

On this expedition to Higashiharima, the Tanba people obviously did not receive any rewards for the new land, nor did they have the opportunity to plunder commercial towns; they only received a few cash rewards.

The total amount of silver and money was not much. After the meritorious people had received their share, distributing the rest to the surviving family members seemed insincere.

So on his way home, Shinzaburo talked to the villagers, saying that he would contribute some more money and food as compensation, and that he would also make tax policy adjustments for the families of those who died in the war.

If there are orphans and widows who are completely unable to live independently, they are brought to Noguchi Castle and given a job in laundry and cleaning so that they have a place to make a living.

In order to cover this extra-budgetary expense, Shinzaburo instructed the monk Jingcheng that since there was already successful experience in brewing millet wine, they should not limit themselves to clearing land and growing it themselves, but could buy some from the surrounding people.

Since Master Mingzhou has agreed to allocate a quota of 2,000 liters per year in front of Kofukuji Temple, we should not let his kindness go to waste and try to use up the quota.

Anyway, Tanba is a remote and impoverished mountain village with barren land that can only grow barnyard grass, so it shouldn't be that Gokurakuji-ryu is the only place in the area.

This might offend some rice merchants and trigger disputes related to the "monopoly right." However, businessmen in Funai District of Tanba Province have to give Master Mingzhou face, so if the amount is not large, it should just be a matter of a few drinks as punishment.

In addition, upholding the traditional spirit of collecting scraps, he shamelessly begged for some damaged armor through his personal friendship with Matsunaga Magoro, the "Tamburo Jindai," intending to repair it for use in the "Godai Guzuku" (a type of armor).

……

I left Tanba in early March and didn't return until mid-May.

Shinzaburo visited the families of the fallen as planned, then began urging the people to carry out summer planting and harvesting, personally inspected the irrigation systems and rice growth in each village, and adjudicated several trivial civil disputes on the spot.

After receiving acupuncture treatment, Jinbingwei's father's pain was greatly relieved, he gradually stopped drinking heavily, and his health improved, allowing him to handle some simple tasks. Shingoro, after turning eleven, matured and gained some prestige in Kubo Village, and was able to take over the work of "Otomi". Ari, on the other hand, gradually grew into a young woman and appeared healthier after her living conditions improved further.

Of course, at the family level, nothing is more important than producing an heir.

Shinsaburo and Adou are now newlyweds who have also been separated for a short time. Their passion is burning brightly, and they make love every night.

On the other hand, although Oi Shigeie was half-hearted, Inatomi Shigenobu had agreed to marry his half-sister to him, and the marriage was progressing and had received Matsunaga Nagayasu's permission.

Just as everything was returning to normal, Shinzaburo suddenly received a new transfer order at the Yagi Castle assessment meeting at the end of May.

The letter was personally delivered by Matsunaga Nagayori.

The inscription reads: "Kubo Genban Yoshiaki" will be appointed as "Tada Copper Mining Office Manager".

The signature reads "Hosokawa Ukyo," which refers to Hosokawa Ujitsuna, the new Kanrei (military commander) promoted by Miyoshi Nagayoshi.

Shinzaburo was completely bewildered by this.

Matsunaga Nagayori lamented and explained, “At the tea party the other day, my elder brother said that Kubo Genban was not only brave and skilled in battle, but also adept at planning and strategy, and had connections in commerce and industry, so he could be entrusted with matters concerning temples, shrines, towns and villages. However, Hyuga no Kami said that since he was good at planning and strategy, he should be appointed as the head of the Tada Copper Mining Office. My lord agreed.”

oh……

It means that he was recommended by Matsunaga Hisahide, but was then interfered with by Miyoshi Nagahisa and transferred to a random department.

It sounds like they've gotten caught up in factional infighting.

Where is that "Tada Copper Mining Station" located? What's the situation with it?

Shinzaburo didn't know what to say for a moment.

Matsunaga Nagayori said with a wry smile, "The good news is that the Tada Copper Mine has always been under the control of the shogunate and is a place that the 'guardian cannot enter'. In order to make it legitimate, Lord Kubo specially had Hosokawa Ukyo issue the appointment document. From now on, the Kubo family can call themselves 'Tanba Inner Clan' who are directly under the Kanrei, which greatly enhances the family's status."

Rule over the people...

Shinzaburo had never heard of this word before, and only recently understood it.

Just as the shogun had direct retainers called "Homō-shū" (鍾鎮鎮), the Hosokawa family, after usurping central power, correspondingly formed direct retainers called "Naishū" (内貫).

The generals are not subject to the jurisdiction of the local garrison commander or his deputy, and are directly responsible to the shogun. The inner garrison is also not subject to the jurisdiction of the local garrison commander or his deputy, and is directly responsible to the magistrate.

In the early days, only a few high-ranking officials at the level of the governor were called "inner retainers," but as the political situation became increasingly pervasive, later on, any retainer would call himself a "inner retainer" of the Hosokawa family.

This status and qualification would have been quite valuable decades ago, when the Hosokawa family was at the height of its power.

Now... in the chaotic Warring States period, with the collapse of social order and music, a title is of little use.

Matsunaga Nagayori said this was "good news".

So what's the bad news?

Shinzaburo had a bad feeling. He looked up and saw Matsunaga Nagayori saying apologetically, "The bad news is that the Tada Copper Mining Company has been declining in recent years. My brother only wanted to select capable people this time, but it has brought trouble instead."

They also handed over a letter written by Hisahide Matsunaga.

The general meaning is similar to what Matsunaga Nagayori said, expressing remorse and promising to make amends in the future.

086 Even if you have a mine at home, you still won't make money.

Upon hearing this, Shinzaburo felt both amused and exasperated.

It turns out I only got a useless title, but I was transferred to a very troublesome position.

Moreover, judging from this, it seems that after Matsunaga Hisahide made the recommendation, Miyoshi Nagahisa deliberately came out to suppress it.

Were you caught up in the power struggle among the bigwigs?

However, since the message came from Matsunaga Nagayori, he would definitely side with his older brother and might not reveal all the details.

Forget it, there's no point in thinking about it now.

Once the official transfer order is finally issued and clearly written in black and white, can you still disobey it?

Matsunaga Nagayori said that he should go back and prepare for a few days, make arrangements at home, and that someone would come to pick him up on the tenth of next month.