Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era

1571, mid-September.

Shizuko couldn’t help but think that the world of politics was mysterious.
After returning from Gifu to Owari, Shizuko and the others disbanded the army and began their journey home.
Their home, after a month away, hadn’t changed at all.
The only difference was that there were more people than before.

“For a key figure in the Oda family, it’s quite shabby… I mean, it’s a simple residence, isn’t it?”

“That’s rude, Lord Hanzo.
But I do feel like it’s small.”

Hattori Hanzo, who would become one of the sixteen gods of the Tokugawa clan, and Honda Tadakatsu, one of the three greats of the Tokugawa, expressed their impressions of Shizuko’s house.

Other than the fact that there had been some kind of deal between Nobunaga and Ieyasu, resulting in them being entrusted to Shizuko, she didn’t know anything.
She wondered if there were any security concerns with the information she had, but most of her technology was scattered throughout various places.
It would be quicker to place spies in various locations than to investigate her intensively at this point.
What remained were either modern items that couldn’t be reproduced in the Sengoku period or items that were still being produced.

“(Still, I should be careful) There are a few points to note, but especially, please be careful not to go into the mountains.
Most of the area is the territory of wild animals, so they will attack to eliminate intruders.
In particular, bears come out in the deep broadleaf forest area, so please be aware of that.”

Among the animals that inhabit the mainland, the Tsukinowaguma is the animal that occupies the top of the ecological pyramid.
Although the Tsukinowaguma is classified as a small bear, its attacks, which can be launched from its arms equipped with claws as sharp as a small knife, can even knock down bushes.
Therefore, if attacked by a Tsukinowaguma, humans would have no chance, and if the head were targeted by its hind legs, it would be separated from the body and cry.

Surprisingly, their diet is predominantly herbivorous.
They mainly eat acorns and chestnuts, but they also prey on insects, animal carcasses, the chicks of birds of prey, and the young of herbivorous animals.
When it comes to bears, there is an image that they often eat salmon, but the bears that eat salmon are not Tsukinowaguma, but rather Higuma or Grizzly bears.

“There is one thing I would like you to consider.
We have various animals kept here.
It’s fine to observe them, but please avoid contact as much as possible.
We have valuable animals that are being raised under the Lord’s instructions, so if you were to accidentally kill them, we could demand a huge amount of money from the Tokugawa family.
It would be an amount that could redeem an entire castle.”

“For example, what kind of animals are they?”

“They are the Japanese grouse, Nanban dogs, cats, wolves, and the symbol of longevity, the elephant turtle, which are all native species of our country.
Especially the Nanban cats are favorites of the Lord and the guards, so it would definitely displease them.”

Most of the wild animals are found in the abundant food supply of the deciduous broadleaf forest area, while the Japanese grouse inhabits the coniferous forest area.
In modern times, the Japanese grouse, a native species of Japan, has been designated as a special natural monument.
However, considering that their presence has been confirmed on a small mountain in Owari during the Sengoku period, it can be inferred that they used to inhabit a much wider range.
Since they have low flying ability, they are vulnerable to predators such as foxes and crows, but the area around Shizuko has many animals that prey on predators, making it a good environment for the Japanese grouse.
However, it is still a mystery why the Japanese grouse, which is a mountain-dwelling species, descended to the flat areas.

“I understand.
I will keep that in mind.”

“Thank you.
I will explain in detail another time, but for now, I will guide you to the residence where you will be staying when you wake up.”

Shizuko asked one of the soldiers to guide Tadakatsu and Hanzo.
Of course, since they were retainers of the Tokugawa clan, they would not be staying in the area where Shizuko lived, but in a residence on the outskirts.

“What a shame.”

Tadakatsu, who was genuinely disappointed, let out a heavy sigh.

“It’s only natural.
Even though it was decided by the Lord and Oda-dono, there is no reason to let them live nearby so easily.”

Hanzo, with a look of annoyance, retorted to Tadakatsu, stating the obvious.
Hanzo had thought that he would be guided to a residence further away, but it turned out that Shizuko’s residence was within visible distance.
He thought she was being careless, but it wasn’t easy to infiltrate a place where people and animals were constantly on guard.

(It’s not just the land, but the fact that they are being watched from the sky makes it extremely difficult to sneak into their close vicinity.
And the mountains, which would be the most vulnerable in terms of security, are inhabited by wild animals.
It seems easy at first glance, but there are no gaps in their security system.)

Tsukinowaguma are crepuscular animals that are active during dim times of the day, such as morning and evening.
However, this is a basic characteristic, and depending on the individual and the environment, they may also be active during the day or night.
Furthermore, due to the abundance of food, there are many deer, and recently, the presence of wild boars and Japanese wolves has also been confirmed.
Many animals inhabit the small mountains, but the food supply in the mountains is abundant enough to support them.
Although they drive away animals that would cause trouble if they lived in the surrounding areas, most of the mountains have become the stronghold of these animals.
The place Shizuko uses is just a small part of it.

“I hope you’re not planning anything sinister, Lord Hanzo.”

Tadakatsu stared at Hanzo, who remained silent.
Whether it was because his reaction was quite interesting or not, Hanzo answered with a small smile.

“I just thought it would be interesting for a while.”

Honda Tadakatsu and Hattori Hanzo were already experiencing Shizuko’s baptism.
They were surprised by the way meals were taken, the timing, the baths, and other lifestyle habits that were unfamiliar in Mikawa.
However, after a few days, they began to adapt to the environment.
By the fifth day, both of them had completely blended in.
Tadakatsu became fond of the baths, while Hanzo became captivated by sake.
Hanzo occasionally joined the evening meal and drinking sessions with Keiji and the others.

Whether they were getting along on the surface or genuinely becoming friends, Shizuko couldn’t tell for sure.
But at least, she thought it was better than them quarreling, so she decided to watch over them.
However, she could also say that she was busy with the training of the recently born German Shepherd Wolfhounds.

“Wait!”

The ten German Shepherd Wolfhounds instantly stopped in response to Shizuko’s command.
Five of them were from Kaiser and the Shepherd, two were from König and the Shepherd, and three were from Litter and the Shepherd.
As expected, no puppies were born from Wittman and Barty.
Shizuko thought that in a stable environment where life and death coexisted, the instinct to reproduce had weakened.
In captivity, even if they reproduce, there are cases where they don’t even engage in reproductive behavior.
It is said that this is because they believe that increasing their population does not contribute to their survival if they have a stable food supply and a safe territory.

(Oops, I can’t forget.
I need to train the Wolfhounds now.)

All the individuals had erect ears, drooping tails, thick fur, a sturdy body with flexibility, a double coat with guard hairs and undercoat, and sharp eyes reminiscent of wolves.
They had extremely high reflexes, endurance, and overall agility, and even some individuals at a few months old were comparable to adult Shiba Inus.
However, the differences in their personalities, which were common among the Wolfhounds, were also evident.

First, Kaiser’s offspring had large bodies and many of them had a friendly personality, but they were prone to causing trouble when they were bored.
Even before training, they were extremely obedient to the leader.
Next, König’s offspring usually behaved coolly, but they became clingy as soon as they didn’t have anyone to interact with, making them troublesome.
And among the three types, they had the strongest sense of obedience.
Finally, Litter’s offspring had excellent situational judgment abilities.
While the other Wolfhounds reacted after receiving commands, Litter’s offspring anticipated and acted based on Shizuko’s movements.

“You’re doing well.”

Hanzo called out to Shizuko, who was training the Wolfhounds.
Over the past few days, he had been observing her and had noticed that she possessed a special talent.
She commanded a large number of animals, was respected as the “Lord” by the Ashigaru (light foot soldiers), and managed to bring together difficult warlords.
In a world of constant power struggles, it was abnormal for retainers without blood ties to form such a strong bond.
And yet, there was a relaxed “playfulness” that existed, and it seemed lacking in tension.
It appeared disorderly, but there was order, and each individual moved freely, yet they were operated with regularity centered around Shizuko.
This was Hanzo’s conclusion after investigating everyone from Shizuko, who was at the top, to the lowest-ranking servant for several days.

“That’s not true.
It’s the owner’s duty to train the dogs.”

“Oh… I see.
I have never owned a dog, but training is the owner’s duty, huh?”

Hanzo emitted a killing intent as he spoke to Shizuko.
However, Shizuko didn’t react at all, and only the wolfhounds around her responded to the killing intent.
The wolfhounds growled lowly, threatening Hanzo.

“W-What’s wrong? It’s okay, you can relax.”

Shizuko tried to calm the wolfhounds that suddenly growled and stroked them.
After a while, the wolfhounds, who had been staring at Hanzo, understood that he wouldn’t take any action and stopped growling.

(She doesn’t react to the killing intent.
Can this girl really survive in this chaotic world?)

Hanzo, who was slightly worried about Shizuko’s vulnerability, sighed.
In that moment, he was hit by a strong impact from behind and was sent rolling on the ground without a chance to regain his balance.

“Shizuko-sama! Are you alright!?”

The person who sent Hanzo flying was Tadakatsu.
He rushed to Shizuko’s side with his Dragonfly Cutter at an extraordinary speed.
It was just a coincidence that Hanzo happened to be in the line of Tadakatsu’s run, and Tadakatsu didn’t intentionally send him flying.

“I felt some killing intent, but please rest assured! I am Honda Heihachiro! No one will get near Shizuko-sama!”

“Uh, well… Anyway, what about Hanzo-san?”,”Huh? Oh, Hanzo-sama.
It is impolite to lie down in front of Shizuko-sama, no matter how comfortable you are with her.”

Tadakatsu obediently looked in the direction Shizuko was pointing.
Hanzo was lying on the ground one to two meters away from Tadakatsu, but he didn’t even think that he had sent Hanzo flying and expressed his dissatisfaction.
After lying on the ground for a while, Hanzo suddenly stood up silently and approached Tadakatsu, then punched him with all his strength.

“What are you doing!”

“What are you doing? That’s my line!”

Shizuko was flustered by the sudden scuffle in front of her.

“How ridiculous.”

Ashimitsu appeared out of nowhere and muttered while placing his hand on Shizuko’s shoulder.
Unlike Shizuko, he watched the scuffle between Tadakatsu and Hanzo with a sense of exasperation.

“It’s just a foolish commotion between men.
Shizuko, it’s dangerous to get involved.
Leave these two idiots alone and let’s have some tea…”

Ashimitsu didn’t finish his sentence.
Tadakatsu sent him flying just like he did with Hanzo.
Unlike Hanzo, Ashimitsu changed his body position in mid-air and gracefully landed in a defensive position.

“You! How dare you casually touch Shizuko-sama’s shoulder! I haven’t even touched her… cough cough! Anyway, you are too familiar with women!”

Tadakatsu, who had just been scuffling with Hanzo, shouted at Ashimitsu with a red face.
Ignoring the enraged Tadakatsu, Ashimitsu placed his left hand on his neck and cracked his bones.

(Oh no, this is bad)

Shizuko understood from Ashimitsu’s expression that he was angry.
She thought it was a very dangerous situation, but now even her voice couldn’t reach Ashimitsu’s ears.

“You insolent brat.
I like you.
I will let you taste the ground from now on.
And I’ll tell you, I won’t touch Shizuko.”

“What! W-What is your relationship with Shizuko-sama?”

“Hmph, unlike you, I have been close to Shizuko since she was this small.”

Ashimitsu answered Tadakatsu’s question with a triumphant expression.
Tadakatsu, filled with despair, slapped his face with both hands to gather his determination.

“Um, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I hope we can resolve this peacefully… haha”

Shizuko timidly said, but as expected, neither of them responded to her words.
They were now in a state where they only saw each other.

“So if I defeat you, I can grow flowers with Shizuko.”

“You’re too naive to think you can seduce me, brat.
Go back and suck on your wet nurse’s breast.”

Shizuko felt like she heard a sound of the air splitting.
Hanzo, who had been scuffling with Tadakatsu, also sensed the ominous atmosphere and quietly moved away from Tadakatsu.

“We won’t get along, will we?”

“What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing.”

While saying such things to each other, Tadakatsu and Ashimitsu slightly lowered their hips.
They decided to fight without resorting to violence, using sumo.
Sumo could be justified as training.
Even if they got injured, no one would mind.

“If you want to apologize, now is the time.”

“Shut up, brat.
Come, I’ll be your opponent.”

After exchanging words, a brief silence followed.
Tadakatsu was the first to break it.
Ashimitsu moved slightly later.
They clashed with each other, their flesh colliding.
But the sound when their shoulders collided was like the sound of a wooden mallet hitting a mud wall.
Despite the intense collision, neither of them staggered backward and continued to push against each other.

“Hmph!”

They didn’t give in to each other for a while, but Ashimitsu, who didn’t miss a small opening, threw Tadakatsu.
Tadakatsu quickly got up and charged at Ashimitsu again.

“You’re doing well, both of you.”

Shizuko watched the sumo match between the two of them, half in exasperation.
As the match went on and the winner was decided a few times, more and more spectators gathered.
Some of them, like Tadakatsu and Ashimitsu, took off their jackets and joined the sumo.
Of course, not only Shizuko’s side but also people from other factions joined in.

Although Tadakatsu and Hanzo were entrusted to Nobunaga, or more precisely, to Shizuko, they were not the only ones entrusted.
Within Tadakatsu’s group, about 30 elite retainers were accompanying them.
Among the 30, there were notable individuals such as Honda Heihachiro, who raised Tadakatsu as the successor of the Honda family, and Nagasaka Hikogorou Nobumasa, who instilled knowledge of warfare in Tadakatsu.
There were also Sakuraishi Shounosuke Katsutsugu, who commanded the troops in Tadakatsu’s absence, and Chikushi Souzaemon Hidetsuna, the chief retainer of the Honda family, who supported the family for generations along with the Kaji family, represented by Kaji Kinpei Katsutada.
They were all part of Tadakatsu’s group.

Perhaps due to Ieyasu’s unclear orders or the stress caused by the changing environment, everyone, including Tadakatsu’s group, took off their jackets and joined the sumo.
As the number of participants increased, the spectators became more enthusiastic about the sumo.
Sometimes, the thrown wrestlers would crash into the crowd, but no one minded.

“…Well, I guess this is fine.”

As the number of people participating in sumo increased, Shizuko felt it was dangerous and watched from the second floor of a nearby building.
It was forbidden to look down from above, but no one paid attention to it because they were so engrossed.

“Now, who’s next?”

“Then, let me be your opponent!”

Keiji, who had thrown his opponent, flexed his muscles on the dohyo (sumo ring).
Someone from Tadakatsu’s group raised their hand and stepped onto the dohyo to face him.
Shizuko whispered to the male spectators, sipping her tea.

“Men are so simple.
But I envy that about them.”

One week after Tadakatsu’s group settled in Shizuko’s town, a letter of introduction arrived from Nobunaga.
Upon checking the contents, it stated that Shizuko was entrusted with them for the preparation of her investigation of the Tokugawa territory.
Ieyasu’s acceptance of Shizuko’s topographic survey was a show of adult composure and a strong front.
It was also a statement that he did not accept being treated as a vassal.
However, Nobunaga, who knew Ieyasu’s true intentions, didn’t pay much attention to it and instead showed his willingness to easily accept Ieyasu’s demands.

Nobunaga judged that it was not a problem to leave Ieyasu’s retainers with Shizuko because of several reasons.
At first, Shizuko was personally involved in all the projects she undertook, but after Ashimitsu and Mitsuo joined, they were able to establish a division of labor.
Shizuko is in charge of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and research and development, Mitsuo is in charge of livestock, and Ashimitsu is in charge of military affairs in general.
Since Ashimitsu is responsible for the military information that other countries are most interested in, even if they sent spies, they would only obtain information about items that have already been adopted and deployed in the military.

Furthermore, if we limit it to conversations between Shizuko and Ashimitsu, the literacy threshold required to understand the content is high, and there is no need to be conscious of espionage.
For example, if Shizuko needs dynamite, anyone other than Ashimitsu would need to start with explaining what dynamite is.
However, with Ashimitsu, all she needs to say is “explosives × book, needed by a certain month.” It is difficult to even associate the sound with “leaves” and “dynamite.” Even if there is a danger of them vaguely grasping the content after living together and spending a long time, by the time they fully understand, the information would have become outdated and no longer classified.
Therefore, it was judged that it wouldn’t be a significant problem to have retainers from the Tokugawa clan, who may potentially become enemies in the future, by Shizuko’s side.

Shizuko, who is unaware of such political maneuvering, understood from the letter of introduction that she would be able to conduct a detailed topographic survey of the location she desired.

(Now, how much of the Mikatagahara Plateau can I survey in the remaining year?)

The Battle of Mikatagahara was a battle that took place on December 22nd, the third year of the Genki era, on the Mikatagahara Plateau between the Takeda army and the Oda-Tokugawa alliance.
The Takeda army had a maximum force of 30,000, making it a total war, and it is famous for Ieyasu’s great defeat.
Shizuko knows the flow of historical events, but there is one thing she doesn’t understand.
That is the topography of the Mikatagahara Plateau at that time.
Since it no longer exists in its original form in the present day, it is difficult to imagine what it was like.
Therefore, the topographic survey of the Mikatagahara Plateau, which will be the final piece of the puzzle, is an important investigation that will determine the outcome of the battle against the Takeda clan.

When the letter of introduction arrived, Shizuko gathered her retainers.
This time, it was Keiji, Saizo, Nagayoshi, Ashimitsu, and Takatora (Yokichi Toudou), a total of five people.
Keiji and the others were curious about why Takatora (Yokichi Toudou), who was still an apprentice, was called, but they didn’t express their opinions, thinking that Shizuko must have her reasons.

“Permission has been granted for the topographic survey of the Mikatagahara Plateau.
We will now form a survey team and conduct a detailed investigation over the course of a year.
The Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) will be less active for a while, but since the number of Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) has increased significantly, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Shizuko’s Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) were composed of various specialists, not just in terms of personnel.
Thanks to their unique construction method, which was based on prefabrication and improved for the Sengoku period, the fortifications they built were highly praised within the Oda army.
The Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers), who aimed to be like Roman legionnaires, were excellent in close combat and engineering.
Their main duty was usually civil engineering, such as constructing sturdy fortifications, converting temples into permanent garrisons, and improving public roads for military advancement.
The roads they built were of such high quality that Nobunaga later used them as commercial routes.
They had many inconspicuous and unnoticed tasks, and they rarely stood on the battlefield, but their abilities were enough to impress even Nobunaga, and Okabe, who was also in Nobunaga’s service, relied on them for work several times.,The Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team that Shizuko formed and nurtured can be considered a powerful force within the Oda army.
This time, Shizuko plans to bring a unit of 2,000 personnel, including specialists in terrain-related fields, from the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team for the terrain survey of the Sanbagahara Plateau.
However, it is almost impossible to recruit 2,000 personnel for a terrain survey, no matter how many people are involved.
After all, the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team is a highly sought-after unit, and it is clear that there will be considerable dissatisfaction.
Although they are a unit that Shizuko has nurtured, as a member of the organization, it is difficult for even the influential Shizuko to mobilize them to the extent that it impairs their original function.
Therefore, while requesting an excessive number of 2,000 personnel, Shizuko believed that only less than half of them would actually be able to be brought along.

“Well, the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team is a unit that is constantly in demand due to their high abilities… but we can only mobilize about 1,000 personnel for the terrain survey.
So, for the survey team, I will bring along myself, Uncle Ashimitsu, Saizo-san, and Yoshyoshi-kun.
Keiji-san and Katsuzo (Mori Nagayoshi) will be in charge of borrowing the camp.”

“Borrowing the camp… There’s no need to go through the trouble of dividing it, we can all just move together.”

“It’s not feasible for the entire army to move to the Tokugawa territory.
Keiji-san and Katsuzo (Mori Nagayoshi) have a reputation for being strong, so we need to show that they have about half the military strength for external purposes as well, to avoid unnecessary provocation.”

Shizuko’s army is well-known within the Oda army and among other daimyo.
If Shizuko’s entire army were to move to the Tokugawa territory, it could be seen as a sign of rebellion against the Tokugawa, and even if the Tokugawa were to accept it, it could increase tension as neighboring daimyo would gather their forces in preparation for war.
It is necessary to avoid any unnecessary disturbances for the sake of Nobunaga.

“Well, if that’s the reason, then there’s no help for it.”

Nagayoshi, pleased with his reputation for being strong, nodded vigorously.
Keiji, exasperated by his confident attitude, decided not to interrupt their conversation and watched with a warm gaze.

“By the way, when will those horses you mentioned earlier arrive?”

“Ah, about that.
I received a message recently, and they said it would be around September.
Most likely, the survey will start around October, so we should be able to borrow the camp in time.”

Destrier horses, classified as heavy horse breeds, had been transported to Japan by the Jesuit missionaries.
Transporting Destrier horses was not only difficult but also posed a challenge in terms of securing enough food to sustain them.
Unlike Arabian horses, which could be transported using multiple ships, there were only a few instances where Destrier horses were successfully transported.
While it was known that elephants had been transported to Japan, Shizuko did not expect that it would be so costly and that only a few horses could be transported despite the large amount of money spent.

“Well, if there are no more questions, we can conclude the meeting.
Is there anything else?”

“Why is Yokichi being brought along?”

Saizo and Ashimitsu reacted slightly to Keiji’s question.
Yokichi was still an apprentice and was not someone who would typically be brought along for an important task like a terrain survey.
However, the reason why Shizuko was bringing him along had not been explained yet.

“Ah, Yokichi-kun is coming along to learn civil engineering techniques among the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team.”

“Yes! Um, um… Shizuko-sama, I can’t quite figure out why I, a certain someone, would be mixed in with the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team.”

Toudou Takatora (Yokichi), taken aback by the unexpected words, let out a bewildered voice.
However, he quickly regained his composure and timidly asked Shizuko for the reason.

“In my estimation, I believe Yokichi-kun has the ability for castle construction.
That’s why I want him to learn civil engineering techniques among the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team.
Well, I won’t force it on him, of course.
It’s also an opportunity to confirm that aspect.”

“Oh, no… Yes.
If Shizuko-sama sees potential in me, I have no objections.
I was just a little surprised.”

Toudou Takatora, who was praised for his castle construction skills in history, only showcased his talent in the early Edo period.
Therefore, Shizuko wanted Takatora to learn architectural techniques among the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) team and develop his castle construction skills at an early stage.

“I’m sorry for asking too much.
I thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to place a military commander in such a position, but I’m glad you understand.”

Unbeknownst to Shizuko, Takatora agreed because he feared the intense gazes from Ashimitsu and Saizo, which resembled a killing intent.

“Well then, is there anything else? If not, we will conclude the meeting.”

“Yes!”

In response to Shizuko’s announcement of the meeting’s conclusion, everyone responded energetically.

On August 28th, a significant event occurred for the Jesuit missionaries in Japan.
Wada Koremasa, who had been protecting the missionaries during the Battle of Shiraiwakawa, was killed.

Since the internal conflict of the Hosokawa clan (the Eisho Confusion) in the past, Settsu Province had always been a land of constant warfare.
Currently, Wada Koremasa, Ibaraki Shigetomo, Araki Murashige, and Nakagawa Kiyohide were engaged in a power struggle.
Although it had calmed down since Nobunaga’s arrival in Kyoto, they had not yet united as one.
After Nobunaga’s defeat at the Siege of Shiga, the stopper was removed, and the two sides once again confronted each other, leading to a situation where their allied forces faced each other across the Shiraiwakawa on August 28th.
This battle was symbolic of a generational shift.
The three guardians of Settsu Province, who had been active during the Sengoku period (Wada Koremasa being one of them), disappeared from the forefront, and warlords of the Azuchi-Momoyama period emerged.

While Wada Koremasa and the father and son, Takayama Tomochika and Ukon, who were also protecting the missionaries, fortified themselves in Takatsuki Castle, they were completely surrounded by the combined forces of Araki and Nakagawa.
The situation worsened as Matsunaga Hisahide and his son Hisamichi, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, and Shinohara Nagafusa joined the siege of Takatsuki Castle.
They spent two days burning and destroying the castle town of Takatsuki.

While Friar Frois had been observing the situation, he became concerned that the Christian churches in the vicinity of Takatsuki Castle would be destroyed if things continued as they were.
He dispatched Lorenzo Ruiz to Oda Nobunaga to convey the desperate situation.
Settsu Province, being a strategic location in the Kinai region and with Nobunaga aspiring to become the ruler of Japan, he offered to mediate in the conflict that had erupted at his doorstep.
On September 9th, he sent Sukemori Sakuma as an envoy to recommend an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal from both sides.
However, both armies did not accept Nobunaga’s mediation.
Nobunaga, who had been completely humiliated, but the resolution of this conflict would be delayed until the end of September.

While Wada Koremasa, Takayama Tomochika and his son Ukon, and the combined forces of Araki and Nakagawa faced off at Takatsuki Castle, a historically significant event that would tarnish Nobunaga’s reputation throughout Japan occurred.
On September 12th, 1571, before the break of dawn, Nobunaga surrounded Mt.
HieiEnryakuji Temple with an army of approximately 30,000 soldiers.
More precisely, it was not Mt.
HieiEnryakuji Temple itself, but the road used by the Enryakuji Temple warrior monks, as well as the land and sea entrances of Sakamoto.
The elderly residents of Sakamoto offered money to plead for the cessation of the attack, but Nobunaga rejected them.
The battle was inevitable, and the warrior monks of Mt.
HieiEnryakuji Temple took refuge in the Hachiojiyama of the inner shrine of Hiyoshi Taisha, unbeknownst to them that it was a trap set by Nobunaga.

“This is the way of the samurai.”

However, Nobunaga did not touch the main hall of Enryakuji Temple, which was essentially Mt.
Hiei Enryakuji Temple itself.
At that time, Enryakuji Temple served as a military base and had a large commercial city centered around Sakamoto.
However, most of the monks had descended from Mt.
Hiei and made Sakamoto and Shimozakamoto their bases for living.

As soon as the sun rose, Nobunaga ordered a full-scale attack by his entire army, and the battle, known as the Siege of Sakamoto, began with a massacre.
The Oda army first set fire to Sakamoto and Katata, and then, with the signal, various warlords raised their conch shells and battle cries as they attacked.

Mitsuhide Akechi, Tsuneoki Ikeda, Katsue Shibata, Nobumori Sakuma, Yuuan Takei, Shigemasa Nakagawa, Nagahide Niwa, and Ashimitsu and Mori Nagayoshi from Shizuko’s army participated in the battle of Sakamoto.
The reason why Kinoshita Fujitaka Hideyoshi, who was historically present, was not there is because he was besieging Otani Castle with Shizuko’s main army as a stronghold against Hisamasa.

“Help! Help! Help!”

“Please spare my life… Ah!”

Screams of despair and pleas echoed everywhere.
However, not a single member of the Oda army listened to their pleas and continued to kill the people in Sakamoto in a calm and composed manner.
They beheaded not only the warrior monks but also people of all ages and positions, without discrimination.
They burned down buildings and mercilessly killed even infants, regardless of whether they were enemies or not.
Although the Oda army was known for burning down buildings and killing even infants without mercy, it was strange that the main hall of Mt.
HieiEnryakuji Temple, which was essentially untouched.

Nobunaga left the main hall of Enryakuji Temple untouched for a reason.
He had no intention of destroying Enryakuji Temple as a whole.
At that time, Enryakuji Temple served as a military base, and Sakamoto, among others, had a large commercial city.
However, most of the monks had descended from Mt.
Hiei and made Sakamoto and Shimozakamoto their bases for living.

Enryakuji Temple had four levels of monks: Inrai, Doshu, students, and public officials, and the center of corruption was the public officials.
They indulged in sexual relationships with women and consumed meat and birds without hesitation.
They stole ritual fees and alms when they were short of entertainment expenses, accepted bribes, and engaged in usurious moneylending.
Sometimes they would push people into debt, forcing them to use their houses, land, and even women and children as collateral, and collect them with violence.
Public officials used Enryakuji Temple’s power to demand land taxes from mountain territories, and in times of crisis, they would wrap white cloth around their heads, take up weapons, and rampage in various places.
Sometimes they would carry Mikoshi and rush into Kyoto, causing havoc until their demands were met.

Enryakuji Temple, like Mt.
Hiei Enryakuji Temple, had numerous shrines throughout the country and boasted power throughout the nation.
They referred to Sakamoto Beach as an outer port and profited greatly from the inns and entertainment establishments used by groups visiting Enryakuji Temple.
Their corruption was so severe that it was described in “Nobunaga Koki” as “without shame in ridiculing the world and without fear of the heavens.” Most of the monks had become secular and indulged in worldly pleasures, forgetting their faith.

Enryakuji Temple refers to Nobunaga’s burning as the “Genki no Hounan” (Great Persecution of the Genki era), but even in historical records, Nobunaga did not completely burn down Mt.
Hiei.
However, Nobunaga completely sealed off the entire area around Sakamoto, so there were no third-party observers who directly witnessed what happened to Enryakuji Temple.
There are numerous records of Nobunaga’s burning in Friar Frois’ reports, “Gonoi-dono Ue Nikki,” and “Oyu-dono Ue Nikki,” but as mentioned earlier, they did not directly witness the Oda army’s burning.
These records are merely accounts of hearsay.
Throughout history, hearsay tends to be exaggerated and embellished.

It was not until the Showa era, through excavations, that it was revealed that Nobunaga’s burning of Enryakuji Temple was nothing more than an exaggerated illusion.
Kaneyasu Yasumasa, who was involved in the excavation, reported that “only the Central Hall and Auditorium of Enryakuji Temple were burned by Nobunaga.” Furthermore, many of the buildings of Enryakuji Temple had already been abandoned before the Genki era, and very few excavated artifacts indicated the destruction by fire during the Genki era.
It was discovered that the burning of Enryakuji Temple by Motochika Hosokawa was more thorough, with most of the major facilities being destroyed at that time.,At that time, the ruler of Mt.
Hiei was Prince Kakusho, the younger brother of Emperor Shōshin.
If Nobunaga had carried out the complete burning of the entire mountain, Prince Kakusho would not have survived and it would have been possible for him to become an enemy of Nobunaga.
However, even after the burning of Mt.
Hiei, Emperor Shōshin did not change his attitude towards Nobunaga, and there are no records of any particular response taken.
Prince Kakusho also did not engage in any activities at the imperial court and sought refuge with the Takeda family, who had protected Enryakuji Temple.

In historical fact, Nobunaga left the rumors of the burning of Mt.
Hiei as they were, but this time he used the Sixth Army to spread information in Kyoto and Sakai.
The information spread in Kyoto and Sakai since early September that “the people in Sakamoto are the ones who corrupted Enryakuji Temple” and “the Oda family will not let any more evil demons deceive the Buddha.” Moreover, it was during this time that the Oda army’s military actions in Sakamoto were established as an open fact in Kyoto and Sakai.
During this time, Nobunaga did not pursue those who fled from Sakamoto with their assets.
Furthermore, it was on September 10th that the Oda army was deployed near Sakamoto, and by September 12th, those who remained were either underestimating the Oda army or prepared to fight to the end, forcing them into this situation.

It was already too late for them to make a fuss now.
In Kyoto and Sakai, Oda’s hand-distributed gazettes (newspapers) spread, and favorable information for Nobunaga had already taken hold before the invasion of Sakamoto.
They also used the Kōga clan to play the role of those who escaped from Sakamoto and spread the information.
Nobunaga achieved a complete victory in the information war and attacked and destroyed Sakamoto without any mercy or hesitation.

“Slaughter them all without distinction.”

Numerous pleas for mercy reached the Oda army, but Nobunaga’s response remained unchanged.
The information about the attack was deliberately leaked, and he showed evidence that it was not a lie the day before, so if they were prepared to fight to the end, there was no other choice.
It was an act of mercy to cut down the unruly ones before they could further tarnish their reputation in front of the public, Nobunaga said to those around him.
Even those who had previously held respect for Enryakuji Temple witnessed the ugliness of the warrior monks in Sakamoto and realized that Nobunaga’s thinking was correct.
However, there were still some who hesitated to show mercy.
In response to that, Nobunaga had a plan.

“I ask again.
Why did you let the people of Sakamoto escape?”

It was surveillance by Ashimitsu.
Not surveillance of the Oda army, but surveillance of those other than the Oda clan retainers who participated in the attack on Sakamoto this time.
The reason for doing this was that Hideyoshi did not participate in the attack on Sakamoto.
When the Oda army burned down Sakamoto in the Mt.
Hiei burning, Mitsuhide and Shibata thoroughly destroyed Sakamoto according to Nobunaga’s orders.
However, Hideyoshi, who was in charge of the Yokogawa area, let the people fleeing from Sakamoto escape.
In other words, he was slacking off on his job, but this was not simply because Hideyoshi had humanitarian reasons or felt pity for those who were fleeing.
The reason why Mitsuhide and Shibata were loyal to the orders, while Hideyoshi went against Nobunaga’s orders, was related to their birth.

Hideyoshi was born a farmer and had little connection with powerful figures like Mitsuhide and Shibata.
It is also said that he was born as a lower-class Ashigaru (light foot soldier), but in any case, he had virtually no connections with other families.
On the other hand, Mitsuhide and Shibata had a history of their families and had some influence with powerful figures.
This difference became evident in their responses when attacking Sakamoto.
In other words, Hideyoshi let those who fled from Sakamoto and had power go in order to gain connections with powerful figures.
This allowed him to receive a large amount of tribute from Sakamoto when he later seized control of the country.
Nobunaga did not know about this, but he feared that an ally who would let the enemy escape with money would appear and that this would allow the encirclement to be broken, so he ordered Ashimitsu to monitor his allies.

“Th-That is…”

The warlord stammered in response to Ashimitsu’s question.
He glanced at the bodies of a mother and two children lying nearby.
He couldn’t help but see his own wife and children in their faces and felt pity for them.
However, Ashimitsu’s subordinates (including Tobikato, the leader of the ninja group) had been watching the whole thing.
They immediately captured his wife and children, and without any questions, they were beheaded.
The corpses were then rolled in front of the warlord, and Ashimitsu began questioning him.

“Kill all the people of Sakamoto without exception.”

The warlord, who was being stared at, instinctively took a step back.
He didn’t see Ashimitsu’s eyes as looking at an ally, but rather felt a chill down his spine.
However, Ashimitsu, who judged that there was something dark behind his attitude, narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Let’s forgive them for the three of them.”

“What…?”

“I’m saying that you should forgive them with the heads of the same number of people you let escape.”

The warlord couldn’t understand what Ashimitsu meant by his words.
No, he didn’t even try to understand.
In short, it meant that he should kill his own subordinates in the same number as the people he let escape.
It was something that he couldn’t possibly understand, and it was not a content that he could accept.
Seeing the hesitating warlord, Ashimitsu let out a small sigh and raised his arm to give a signal.
Instantly, arrows flew from all directions and pierced the heads of the Ashigaru (light foot soldiers) who were near the warlord.

“There is no use for useless people who can’t even carry out Lord Oda’s orders.”

The warlord, who was about to protest, swallowed his words in the face of the killing intent from Ashimitsu and his men.
Finally, the warlord understood.
Ashimitsu did not consider them allies, but merely judged that they were not their enemies.
If he were to clearly oppose him here, Ashimitsu would easily consider them enemies and kill them all.
And even if he disposed of them, there would be no consequences for him.
The warlord fully understood this.

“I’m sorry.
I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Faced with the choice between pride and honor, or survival, the warlord chose the latter.

“There won’t be a next time.”

With those words, Ashimitsu ignored the warlord and left with his subordinates.
All that remained were the humiliated warlord and his retainers, and the bodies of the parent and child, brutally killed.