◇
Asakura Yoshikage was extremely excited.
He is currently visiting the foot of Mount Kotani, escorted by his soldiers.
While investigating the structure of Odani Castle, one of the investigators said,
"It appears they are constructing a bathhouse."
He returned with that report.
Intrigued, Yoshikage immediately decided to inspect it, and when he left the castle and went to the foot of the mountain, he found a bathhouse under construction right before his eyes, and even a huge wooden bathtub.
Moreover, the area is filled with natural hot spring water, and warm steam rises into the chilly March sky.
(I see, that's a new approach!)
Yoshikage looked pleased and approached the bathhouse, nodding repeatedly.
Then, bending down, I gently placed my fingertips on the edge of the bathtub.
(warm...)
That's exactly it.
Now that I think of it, the merchants have been selling off timber to Omi recently—was this the reason?
Yoshikage groaned, sat up, crossed his arms, and nodded once.
(To think that he would even open up such luxuries to the common people... Bizen-no-kami, what a despicable fellow he is.)
Incidentally, after hearing about the bathhouse, Yoshikage immediately asked a retainer of the Asai family who was aligned with Hisamasa, "What is Bizen-no-kami's aim...?"
And when I heard that they were planning to open the hot springs to the public and develop it into an industry to attract people from other countries, I couldn't help but be impressed.
Yoshikage deeply loves the people who live in Echizen.
What he always cared about was their "safety" and "well-being."
Yoshikage's primary principle was "maintaining order in his territory."
In other words, their primary goal was to strengthen police power and improve public order by increasing patrols by soldiers within their territory.
Thanks to these efforts, Echizen has come to be regarded as "the safest place under the sun."
"What good is administration if it doesn't ensure the safety of its citizens?"
Yoshikage often confides this to those around him.
Following the Ōnin War, the country was in utter chaos, and atrocities such as looting and rape were rampant throughout the land.
However, the Asakura family, the daimyo of Echizen Province, did not approve of this and, saying "at least in our country...", worked to improve the system of law and refine the functions of maintaining order so as not to tolerate such atrocities.
"If we can just ensure their safety, the people will come to like it..."
With that in mind, he deliberately avoided interfering with domestic industries and focused solely on public security administration—
(I see. That's exactly what I've been lacking.)
Seeing the hot spring resort, which was still under construction but whose completed form could be easily imagined, Yoshikage was struck by a sudden realization.
(Take action on things that the people don't notice, but that will undoubtedly improve their living standards... this is indeed the true essence of what a ruler should do!)
Clapping his hands together, Yoshikage became certain.
From now on, the unity between the ruler and the people in northern Omi will steadily strengthen.
Those kinds of countries are strong.
They would be cooperative with temporary tax collection during wartime, and above all, if the survival of a daimyo family were threatened, they would take up arms and fight alongside the soldiers.
Earning trust is difficult, but once you do, people will support you unless something unusual happens.
However, this left Yoshikage racking his brain, wondering, "Now what should I do...?"
Yoshikage generally held a low opinion of the Asai retainers who remained at Odani Castle and were loyal to Hisamasa.
And the more you learn about him, the more your opinion of Nagamasa rises.鰻eel
(This is finally some interesting material... Bizen-no-kami)
The future direction of development in northern Omi will likely depend on the thoughts and beliefs of this young head of the family.
And that direction is probably different from that of Echizen.
In any case, Nagamasa, who takes a domestic policy that focuses on the people, appears to Yoshikage as a very favorable figure.
(Well, that's assuming I survive this battle, of course.)
As Yoshikage turned on his heel and walked away from the construction site of the hot spring resort, he pictured Nagamasa joining the Asai army, which was sandwiched between the Saito and Rokkaku armies.
Incidentally, Yoshikage wasn't particularly skilled at commanding troops, but he was well aware of the basic military principle that "if your head and tail are pinned down, there's nothing you can do..." That's precisely why—
(Lord Bizen-no-kami has no choice but to retreat.)
That's what I thought.
However, what awaited Yoshikage upon his return to Odani Castle was the shocking news that "the Asai army had defeated the Rokkaku army," and the unexpected development that "Oda Nobunaga himself had led troops into Omi Province to support the Asai army."
And the decision Yoshikage made the moment he heard those reports was also unexpected for Hisamasa and the others who had invited him to Omi.
In other words, "From here on, our army will return to Echizen immediately."
Hisamasa and the others reacted with fierce opposition upon hearing this, but Yoshikage retorted forcefully, "That is to say—"
"We agreed to attack Asai Bizen-no-kami, but we did not agree to go to war with the Oda family."
That's the bottom line.
Faced with that statement, Hisamasa and the others could only remain silent.
Hisamasa and his men cannot take responsibility even if relations between the Asakura and Oda families deteriorate.
Moreover, Yoshikage implicitly criticizes them, saying, "Because your stratagems were immature, the matter was exposed to the Oda family, and we were forced to back down."
Hisamasa's plan for his own restoration to power had now been reduced to ashes.
But is that really the case?
Leading Hisamasa and the others, who were stunned and devastated, Yoshikage calmly made his way along the mountain path to Echizen.
Since Odani Castle was intended to become Hisamasa's residence if his coup d'état succeeded, it was not looted at all by the Asakura army.
Therefore, objectively speaking, all the Asakura army did on this occasion was a short trip: moving from Echizen to northern Omi, taking a short rest at Odani Castle, and then returning to Echizen.
(But the harvest was greater than the harvest...)
Yoshikage thought this as he looked behind him.
At least in northern Omi, it became clear that there was a promising young man whom Yoshikage could have high hopes for.
(It might snow...)
Unlike Omi, thick clouds spread across the sky above Echizen, and Yoshikage thought to himself:
But that's fine.
Snow has cut off Echizen and Omi, and they will be unable to contact each other for some time.
"In the meantime, slowly gather your strength..."
Looking at the battle flags of the Asai and Oda families visible in the distance, Yoshikage muttered to himself.
(In this world, the actions of young people are always right, and always wrong... because it is always the old fogeys who cannot keep up with the times who judge them. But young people will eventually grow old and become old fogeys themselves, trying to obstruct the actions of the new generation by declaring them wrong—but that is fine. That is how the world has always continued to turn...)
As Yoshikage watched Hisamasa and the others, who had unexpectedly been forced into exile in Omi, he thought to himself.
(But the old fogeys are gone. So young people, do what you believe is right, fail, and correct your mistakes. Then, according to your potential, the time will come for Omi to blossom...)
Just as Yoshikage had predicted along the way, by the time they entered Echizen, it had begun to snow heavily.
◇
And then—at dusk, after so many lives had been lost.
Having temporarily reclaimed Odani Castle for myself, I, along with Nobunaga, passed through the gates of Sugawa Castle, which still bore the vivid scars of fierce battles.
First, I greeted Naotsune, and we both expressed our joy at each other's safety.
Then, following his lead, I was guided to the guest quarters within Sugawa Castle.
"Lord Nagamasa! And, my brother!"
Ichihime, who had been patiently waiting for my return on the veranda of the mansion, rushed over to me, tears of joy streaming down her face, and hugged me tightly.
There were no scars anywhere on her body, which meant that Naotsune had risked his life to protect her.
"It's been a long time."
"yes!"
Ichihime responded to Nobunaga while still clinging to me.
It's cute and I understand the sentiment, but I'd appreciate it if you'd stop because it's embarrassing.
For some time now, Nobunaga has been looking at me with a strangely warm gaze.
"Are you injured?"
"Yes! Mr. Endo protected me..."
"Hmm... I see. Alright, Naotsune."
Saying this, Nobunaga beckoned to Naotsune.
As Naotsune approached him, Nobunaga removed the sword he had been wearing and pressed it against Naotsune.
"Protecting my sister was a noble duty. This is my parting gift; accept it."
"But, this is..."
Naotsune looked at me and Nobunaga with a troubled expression.
The famous sword, Heshikiri Hasebe.
It was Nobunaga's beloved sword, crafted from fluorite.
"Naotsune, do you know what your brother-in-law said about you?"
"teeth..."
"You are said to be like my grandfather, just like Hirate Masahide. If I, Nobunaga, do not show such respect to a man of such importance, I will be laughed at for generations to come. Accept it without hesitation."
When I nodded, Naotsune's face contorted with gratitude as he accepted Heshikiri Hasebe, saying, "I am deeply grateful..."
Nobunaga nodded slowly, then turned as if his business was finished and quickly walked towards the castle gate.
"Lord Kazusa-no-suke! Princess Ichihime is also here, so would it be alright if you stayed a little longer—"
"You idiot!"
When the chief retainer of Sugawa Castle spoke to Nobunaga, he immediately received a dismissive response.
"If I were caught between my brother-in-law and my sister, I wouldn't be able to bear it! Besides, I'm not idle either! Now that Tatsuoki is dead, I am the one who will hold Inabayama Castle! Now is the time for me to take Mino into my hands!"
Hey, are you seriously planning to start an expedition to Mino right now...?
That's what I thought, but now that the head of the Saito family is dead, I certainly don't think there's any influential force in Mino anymore.
They probably intend to take advantage of his absence and swiftly and decisively conquer Mino.
"My brother-in-law!"
Nobunaga called out from a distance in a loud voice that sounded almost like he was shouting.
"When I, Nobunaga, conquer Mino, we shall speak again!"
"Yes, I will!"
"Yes!"
And then—as if by the wind—Nobunaga, who had saved the Asai family from crisis, departed.
Those of us left behind remained silent for a while.
However, I couldn't stay silent forever, so eventually Naotsune coughed once and began to explain the mansion to me.
The reason is—the general consensus within the Asai family was that it would be too dangerous for me to return to Odani Castle today.
Given that the enemy has invaded, we cannot rule out the possibility that a suspicious character has infiltrated somewhere within the castle.
If you were to fall asleep peacefully in your room only to have your head cut off and die, it would be no laughing matter.
That meant I needed to choose a place to stay... and the place I ended up choosing was Sugawa Castle, where Naotsune, who had made a significant contribution to rescuing Ichihime, resided.
"The ingredients for the porridge are by the hearth. And there's a well right next to the veranda, so please feel free to use it."
"A well, huh..."
I remembered how I was dressed.
Yes, I was covered in Ryukou's blood and bodily fluids.
The part that was on the armor was fine since I'd already taken it off—but I just wanted to wash my face and feel refreshed.
"We have prepared plenty of clothes for you and your wife, so please feel free to use them without hesitation."
"Why do we end up using so much of it...?"
"Do you really think I, Naotsune, have to say that? I am a father of three, you know. If you include Hisashi, that makes four children."
Ichihime's cheeks flushed instantly.
It seems he understood what Naotsune meant when he said that.
"My lord and my lady, I am terribly sorry, but no one from Sugawa Castle will be able to enter this residence tonight. We have to attend to Lord Takenaka Shigeharu and Lord Shigenori, and the repairs to the castle gate must be carried out throughout the night."
"..."
Ichihime and I looked at each other in silence.
Her flushed cheeks are incredibly cute.
"Therefore, I apologize for the inconvenience, but please make yourselves comfortable tonight. No one will disturb you."
"Well then, I'll take my leave now," said Naotsune, and he ran towards the castle gate.
Perhaps because the sun was already setting, a large number of torchlights were visible quite early on.
I was staring at the scene in a daze when Ichihime suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me, snapping me back to reality.
"Lord Nagamasa, please sit down on the veranda first."
I sat on the veranda as instructed by Ichihime, who then retrieved something from inside the room, ran to the well, and poured water into the basin.盥washbasin
Then he placed a basin of water with a thud at my feet and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Well then, excuse me."
Ichihime's hand was placed around my ankle, and she skillfully removed my shoes.
Then, taking my bare feet in her hand, Ichihime began to carefully wash away the mud and sand that had clung to them.
The gentle splashing sound of water is soothing.
As I received a gentle massage from Ichihime's soft hands, I pretended not to notice her change in demeanor and slowly stroked her head.
Yes, Ichihime was crying, stifling her voice and her shoulders trembling.
Today was probably the first time Ichihime felt her life was in danger.
Having been raised in a pampered and nurturing environment until then, this was the first time she had ever faced such an extraordinary situation. It was only natural that her mind was in turmoil.
"That's enough. Go inside the room. I'll go wash the dirt off my face."
"...yes"
I drew water from the well and mindlessly rubbed off the blood clinging to my face.
How long had I been doing that?
I finally felt like I had gotten rid of the discomfort in my face, so I pulled open the sliding door from the veranda.
There, the fire in the hearth danced, emitting a gentle light, slowly heating the pot.
It was none other than Ichihime who was tending the fire, and it was then that I first realized she could start a fire and had some cooking skills.
"Lord Nagamasa, please come inside quickly. You'll catch a cold."
The only light source in the room is the flame from the hearth.
I couldn't find any indoor lanterns like the one that was in Princess Ichi's room at Odani Castle.
In other words, there's no way to see her face without getting closer.
As I sat down beside Ichihime, she smiled mischievously and opened the lid of the pot.
Then a pleasant aroma of herbs wafted through the air, stimulating my nostrils.
Now that I think about it, I hadn't eaten anything all day. And it had been such a hectic and eventful day that I had completely forgotten about it.
"This is a rice porridge containing herbs such as butterbur sprouts, water dropwort, shepherd's purse, cudweed, chickweed, henbit, and also turnips and radishes."
"Ah... it looks so delicious..."
"Yes, but please wait a little longer. It will take a little more time for the turnips to cook through... Oh."
Seeing that she dropped the lid of the pot, I pulled Ichihime's body into my arms.
I pressed my nose to its neck and savored its gentle scent, filling my nostrils with its aroma.
"city..."
"...yes"
"I'm so glad you're safe... I'm really so glad...!"
"Lord Nagamasa... Lord Nagamasa...!"
They have no shame or regard for appearances.
They hugged each other, weeping together, and touched each other to feel the sensations and body heat of one another.
The flames burning in the hearth beside us were growing even more intense.