"Nobunaga has no memory of ever feeling fear or hesitation about breaking with tradition."
As Nobunaga said this, he straightened the collar of the luxurious battle surcoat he was wearing over his armor.
He took a fan from his pocket and held it in his left hand. Then, he slapped the closed fan against the palm of his right hand.
" I cannot allow it to be distorted for the sake of my own path to power. However... there is someone who has calmly accomplished something that even I might not dare to do."慣習Something like that躊躇chucho
Saying this in front of me and the three men, Nobunaga unfolded his fan.
Holding the black lacquered paper decorated with a golden Oda family crest in his left hand, he leaned forward and said:
"He was a man who committed the three greatest evils: assassinating the 13th Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, seducing his lord Miyoshi Yoshitsugu with love and taking his family for himself, and burning down the Great Buddha of Nara without fear of divine punishment... No, the fact that he committed such evil deeds is irrelevant. What I don't understand is why such a man chose to join our Oda clan instead of forming an alliance. I, Nobunaga, must re-examine the intentions of Matsunaga Hisahide, who is there."
Nobunaga's gaze is directed towards the old man who will turn 58 this year.
His head was completely shaved, from the forehead to the crown. The hair at the back was tied up in a tea-bottom style.
His skin was deeply tanned, and there was a deep sword scar running from his left eyebrow down to his cheek.
His eyebrows were thick and imposing. He sported a beard trimmed along his jawline and a mustache, a style of beard nowadays known as an "anchor" beard.
He has a handsome face and is well-dressed.
Combined with his age, he could easily pass for a stylish and dapper gentleman.
However, what prevented Hisahide from fitting into that gentlemanly image was his glaring—even menacing—unusual eyes.
Those two eyes seemed to be trying to stir up everything in this world .暴Aba
It also exerted intense pressure on those who opposed it.
"Why, then, did you turn yourself in and become one of my pawns?"
Nobunaga's sharp gaze pierced Hisahide, but the old man remained silent for a while.
On the contrary, he grinned, his face contorted in a smirk, and looked up at Nobunaga and me, laughing.
"All I can say is that the time has come. My lord, Yoshitsugu, no longer believes he can quell the Miyoshi family's internal conflict, or even quell the Kinai region, on his own. Someone who cannot govern their own family is not fit to be the head of the family... When I 'persuaded' him in this way, he said I could do as I pleased..."
"So, you're saying you carried out the punishment of the Miyoshi family on your own authority?"
"Well, well...it seems our new lord has a habit of deliberately saying things that sound bad to others. Good heavens."
Hisahide let out a knowing laugh and continued.
"I, myself, am the chief retainer of the Miyoshi family, following in the footsteps of the previous wise ruler and 'Vice-King of Japan,' Miyoshi Nagayoshi... It is my duty, even as an old man, to manage the household affairs on behalf of the head of the family... Therefore, it is only natural that I, myself, should handle this matter."
"But what will you do if Lord Yoshitsugu objects?"
"If you give me four days, I'll try to persuade them."
The old man said it calmly and without any hesitation whatsoever.
"Lord Yoshitsugu, who is currently residing in my castle in Yamato, shows no interest in anyone other than me."
"What does that mean?"
"Since she was a woman who never originally intended to inherit the position of head of the Miyoshi family, that's only natural, isn't it?"
"So, Yoshitsugu is the head of the family, a woman. In that case, it makes sense that the Miyoshi Three, who don't accept that, started causing trouble."
"Indeed. The Miyoshi family has many relatives and male family members, so many are dissatisfied with the fact that they cannot take the position of head of the family themselves. However, as the chief retainer, I must support Lord Nagayoshi's dying wish."
Hisahide said something that made him seem surprisingly loyal.
Nobunaga asked him a question.
"Oh, so you're saying you were merely following the wishes of the previous head of the family..."
"That's also true. I intend to use my life for that purpose."
"Do you think that forcing the Miyoshi family, who were once the rulers of the land, to submit to our Oda banner would be in accordance with the wishes of our predecessor?"
"Indeed, indeed. That is correct, Lord Nobunaga."
The old man smiled, his eyes gleaming.
Her perfectly white teeth really stand out.
"To ensure the Miyoshi family continues into the next generation without being destroyed, and to help the foolish yet lovable Yoshitsugu, who doesn't even understand the basics of a male-dominated society... For that purpose, I will do anything. As Lord Nobunaga said, I don't care about customs... Even if I'm called one of the three evils, if it leads to helping Yoshitsugu... this old man will stop at nothing..."
Hisahide bared his teeth and wore a bizarre grin.
Watching him, I remembered something.
In historical fact, this most cunning strategist of the Sengoku period was involved in various wicked deeds, but he never betrayed the head of the Miyoshi family.
(Perhaps it's the same in this parallel world... he's an old man with a psychopathic mindset, who is loyal only to the head of the Miyoshi family and willing to sacrifice everything else to keep him alive...? This man, Matsunaga Hisahide.)
In any case, for me, the head of the Asai family, who has absolutely no connection to the Miyoshi family, he is definitely someone I would rather keep my distance from.
◆
As Nobunaga and Hisahide's exchange began to wind down, I noticed that Ukita Naoie had a faint smile on his face.
In contrast to Hisahide, he was a fair-skinned man with a clean-cut, intelligent appearance, sporting only a mustache.
Eventually, it seemed that not only I but also Nobunaga noticed it.
When my brother-in-law urged him on, Naoyoshi smiled wryly and looked at Hisahide, saying:
"Well, well, I had assumed that the renowned Matsunaga Hisahide would be someone like me, someone I could easily talk to—but I am surprised to find that he is actually the complete opposite."
"Hmm"
Hisahide returned Naohisa's smug, sticky smile and nodded.
Naoya continued, a wry smile plastered on his face.
"I, Naoya , believe that my strength, my talent, and I ... should all be used for my own aspirations, desires, and mission."謀Schemes
"Oh, really?"
Nobunaga laughed with amusement.
In the world I came from, he was considered one of the three greatest villains of the Sengoku period, comparable to Saito Dosan and Matsunaga Hisahide...
At the same time, he was a brilliant general—or rather, a cunning villain—who is counted among the three greatest strategists in the Chugoku region, alongside Amago Tsunehisa and Mori Motonari.
Then, Naoya casually and refreshingly dropped a bombshell on my brother-in-law—a story that was hard to believe.
"I am currently serving the Urakami family of Bizen Province... but it is all for the sake of my revenge, to gather the power to destroy the Urakami family, my father's family. My reason for coming to Kyoto and meeting with Lord Nobunaga is ostensibly to present a petition on behalf of my lord, Urakami Munekage... but my real aim is to coordinate with Lord Nobunaga's army marching to Kyoto, seize control of Bizen Province, and finally take Munekage's head."敵kataki
"So, for someone like me, it's quite hard to believe," Naoya said, glancing sideways at Hisahide and laughing.
"Lord Hisahide is trying to use his exceptional talent...for the benefit of others, as the head of the Miyoshi family...how foolish and wasteful. A man of Lord Hisahide's caliber could have easily ruled the entire country if he had used his talent solely for his own benefit."
"Hmph, don't say such foolish things... you youngster from Bizen."
"Heh heh, youngster, you say? I'm surprised, as that's a term I haven't been used to being called in a while. Well, to Lord Hisahide, who's nearing the end of his life, everyone must seem like a youngster."
With Akechi Mitsuhide in between them, the two villains, exuding a sinister atmosphere, begin to exchange sly smiles.
Mitsuhide, caught in the middle, looked extremely uncomfortable.
And at the same time, I realize that this man, who would later assassinate Nobunaga at Honnoji Temple in historical fact, had been an extremely hardworking person.
"Now, now... Lord Hisahide, Lord Naoyoshi. For now, please lay down your spears. We are in the presence of Lord Nobunaga and Lieutenant General Asai, after all... We can discuss this again later."
"Hmph, I suppose so... Lord Mitsuhide might be right... don't you think, youngster from Bizen?"
"That may be true, as you would expect from Lord Mitsuhide, a master of court etiquette and customs of our time. Your method of mediation is truly elegant, old man from Yamato."
Two ruthless figures, born in Yamato Province and Bizen Province, have already begun to clash fiercely.
To be honest, I don't want to get involved or stick my nose into it.
But now, I'll have to deal with them...
(What is this...? What am I supposed to do...?)
Those strategists are far more intelligent than I am.
At the same time, faced with the visibly present risks, I felt a chill run down my spine.