Japan's Warring States Period: The Rise of the Wakasa Tiger

Chapter 135 Dominate the Four Kingdoms
Although he still controlled a lot of territory in name, the only territory he controlled was half of Bikan County and the northern part of Keta County, while the rest of the territory was in the hands of Kakiya, Yagi, and a group of local people. Therefore, the Yamana clan and the Tanyu Sho clan suffered the most losses in this battle, and the two counties of Kinosaki and Izushi under their command had become the territory of the Takeda family.

For Yoshishige, although the weakened Yamana family is an important guarantee for future stability on the western front, being too weak will also cause instability within Tajima, especially when Kakiya and Yagi are still pro-Amago faction. He must do something to balance the power of the Amago family in Tajima.

Therefore, he decided to put on a play with Yamana Yufeng.

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Takeda Kuninobu withdrew his troops back to Inaba as agreed. That afternoon, Yoshishige went to Yagi Castle and had a private conversation with Yamana Yutoyo, and then returned to Asakura Castle, announcing to the public that he would lead his troops back to Tango the next morning.

But that night, a part of the Takeda army stationed outside Asakura Castle actually "mutinized". Onitsuka Masaaki and others, on the grounds of opposing peace talks with the Yamana clan, led their troops to attack the nearby castle town of Yagi Castle, burning and killing people there and creating chaos.

Yamana Yutoyo in Yagi Castle immediately gathered everyone to discuss, and finally decided that since it was the Yagi clan's castle, Yagi Toyonobu would lead his troops to resist the rebels. At the same time, he also ordered Tanjie Shoyoshi to go to Asakura Castle and ask Yoshishige to send troops to suppress it.

Yagi Toyonobu brought about a thousand men from the original Yagi army to the castle town, hoping to intimidate the rebels with the advantage in numbers. Unexpectedly, the rebels under the castle did not seem to be ordinary peasant soldiers, but elite soldiers mixed with the horsemen.

They seemed to have anticipated that Yagi Toyonobu would lead his troops into battle, and had set up ambushes on both sides of the road. As soon as Yagi Toyonobu entered the ambush circle, they immediately rushed out from all directions and launched a siege on Yagi's army.

It was not until this time that Yagi Toyonobu realized that they were not ordinary rebels, and they were not just for burning, killing and looting, but intended to kill his army. Moreover, the number of these rebels was not only the 300 people mentioned by Tian Jie Zhuangyi, but the number of rebels coming from all around was more than 1,500!

Yagi Toyonobu was furious, but he could only lead his army to fight hard. As more and more rebels surrounded them, the flanks of Yagi's army began to show signs of collapse. The long and narrow streets forced them to form a long snake formation, which was also cut into several small groups by the rebels.

After nearly an hour of fierce fighting, many important officials of the Yagi clan, including Yagi Toyonobu's two younger brothers, were killed in the army.

The grief-stricken Yagi Toyonobu decided to lead his troops to break out, but it was easier said than done. The alleys on both sides of the street were controlled by the rebels, and the street that led back to Yagi Castle was also blocked by the rebels. In a desperate situation, he could only choose the latter and force his way out along the street to Yagi Castle. After all, the street was wider and it was easier to break through than the alleys, and the troops would not be too dispersed.

However, how could Onitani Masaaki let him escape? He had already led the rebels to wait for him on the road. The small units that were cut off were also encircled and eliminated by the rebels one by one. The 1,000-man Yagi army was either killed or escaped, and only about 300 people were left at this time, most of whom were warriors of the Yagi clan.

Seeing his family and important officials killed one after another, Yagi Toyonobu was furious and commanded his troops to launch a fierce attack on Oniwa Masaaki's defense line. However, the gap in the strength and quality of the troops led to several charges ending in failure.

As the surrounding Yagi troops were wiped out, the desperate and angry Yagi Toyonobu decided to lead the remaining troops himself and launch a final attack on the rebels.

Unfortunately, Yagi Toyonobu, who held the belief that he would die, failed to create a miracle. The Yagi army failed to break through the defense line, but was gradually surrounded by the rebel forces.

At the last moment, Yagi Toyonobu and seven or eight samurai retreated into a pharmacy along the street.

Listening to the roars and scolding of the rebels outside the store, Yagi Toyonobu, who realized that there was no hope of escape, chose to commit suicide by seppuku, and the remaining samurai also died with him.

After nearly an hour and a half of chaotic fighting, all the Yagi troops were defeated or fled, and the Yagi clan, which once dominated the country, was completely devastated. Coincidentally, not long after Yagi Toyonobu's death, Shirai Mitsutane came to the castle town on Yoshishige's orders, "rebuked" Oniwa Masaaki's atrocities, and demanded that he lead his troops back to Asakura Castle immediately to await Yoshishige's decision.

After all, he was the person promoted by Shirai Mitsutune, so Onitsuka Masaaki had no choice but to agree and led the rebels to leave the castle town in disappointment.

Afterwards, Shirai Mitsutune followed Tanjie Shoyoshi to Yagi Castle, explained the situation to Yamana Yutoyo and others, and expressed his sincere apologies to them on behalf of Yoshishige.

Upon hearing that Yagi Toyonobu had died in battle and the entire Yagi army had been wiped out, Yamana Yutoyoshi burst into tears. Kakiya Tsunari and his son were also shocked. They had not expected that a random "rebel army" could defeat the Yagi army, which was one of the best in Tajima. They could not help but feel awe for the ferocity and military fortune of the Wakasa Takeda clan.

"It's not all their fault," Yamana Yufeng sobbed and lamented, "If we hadn't pushed Keijiro Onitani too hard in Jiayue Valley, he wouldn't have done such a thing."

"My lord, what do you think we should do next?" Tian Jie Zhuang Shiyi asked from the side.

"Who is left of the Yagi clan now?" Yamana Yufeng asked, wiping his tears.

"I just asked, Lord Fengxin only has a three-year-old son left in his family..." Tian Jie Zhuang Shiyi replied.

"In this chaotic world, at this age, how will he survive in the future?" Yamana Youfeng shook his head, thought for a long time, and finally said: "I have decided to adopt him as my son. From now on, I will personally handle all the affairs of the Yagi family. I will definitely let Youxin rest assured in his afterlife."

"The Lord is so kind and gracious, and it is a blessing for the Yagi clan!" Tian Jie Zhuang Shiyi hurriedly bowed down, "I thank the Lord on behalf of the Yagi clan!"

Seeing this, Kakiya father and son also hurriedly knelt down and praised the benevolence of Yamana Yufeng along with Tanjie Shoji.

Afterwards, Yamana Yutoyo decided that before Yagi Toyonobu's youngest son came of age, he would stay in Yagi Castle to handle the political affairs of the territory. This "territory" does not only refer to the Yagi family, but also the entire Tajima Yamana family. In a sense, Yagi Castle became Yamana Yutoyo's new residence.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Yoshishige set out to return to Tango and sent people to Yagi Castle again to "sincerely" apologize to Yamana Yutoyo. He also said that after returning to the country, he would severely punish the generals who participated in the mutiny and prepare generous gifts as compensation to the Yamana family.

At this point, the aftermath of the "Tajima Invasion" came to an end. Yoshishige returned to Tango with satisfaction, taking all of the three counties of Kinosaki, Izuishi, and Asago, as well as the eastern territories of Keta and Yabu counties, and returned to the Takeda clan's mansion on the ninth day of the first lunar month.

Shortly after returning, Yoshishige appointed Kumagai Takanao as the deputy governor of the three counties of Tajima, and because of this "mutiny", Onitsuka Masaaki was officially "demoted" by Yoshishige to the lord of Kadokuro Castle.

After this battle, the territory of the Wakasa Takeda clan extended westward and southward again, becoming a powerful force spanning the four countries of Kozen, Wakasa, Tango, and Tajima. This also made the powerful families and people in neighboring countries such as Tamba, Omi and even Harima feel fearful.

(End of this chapter)