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

"Is it possible? So, Shigeyuki, you support sending troops to Aki?" Yoshishige did not expect that his military advisor would support such a decision whose benefits and risks seemed disproportionate.

"Please forgive me for being frank, but there is a question that I have been unable to figure out. I would like to take this opportunity to ask my lord for some explanation of it." Yamamoto Shigeyuki did not directly answer Yoshishige's question, but asked Yoshishige in a seemingly serious tone.

"Just tell me." Yi Zhong also noticed that he looked serious, and thought it must be something important, so he nodded and motioned him to continue.

"I met you in Echizen in December of the year before last, and it has been a year and a half now. During this period, you defeated Asakura in the east and took Tsuruga County; you defeated Isshiki in the west and took Tango Province; at the beginning of this year, you put down the rebellion of the Itsumi clan and took the three counties of eastern Tajima. You have become a force that spans four countries and cannot be underestimated by the neighbors.

As Shengjiu just said, after the land inspection, the total koku in the main family's territory reached more than 302,000 koku, which is nearly four times the koku in the Wakasa Takeda family's territory when the lord inherited the position of lord.

This size is still far behind Hosokawa Kyojo, Amago, and Ouchi, but it is more than enough compared to Yamana, Asai, and Hatano. To be frank, it won’t be long before the financial and military strength of the main family will be able to compete head-on with Asakura and Rokkaku. "

Yamamoto Shigeyuki said so much but didn't get to the point, which made Yoshishige feel a little puzzled: "According to what you said, the future of my Takeda clan is not bright, right? What exactly do you want to say?"

"It seems to be a good thing, but that's also the problem." After saying the pleasant words, Yamamoto Shigeyuki was ready to say something unpleasant.

"Wakasa was originally a small and narrow country. After more than a year of expeditions, its territory is now even narrower and longer, making it very easy for the enemy to cut it off. This is not the most important thing, after all, the lord has already figured out a solution.

The key to the problem is that the main family went east to fight against Asakura, then went west to conquer Tango, and now it has set foot in the relatively unfamiliar Tajima.

All these things seem to expand the territory, but in fact it is surrounded by enemies and the situation is delicate. To put it bluntly, the purpose is unclear and there is no strategy at all. If this continues, I am afraid that before the main family can develop further, it will be divided up by the surrounding daimyo. "

Yamamoto Shigeyuki's words were indeed harsh, but Yoshishige's greatest strength was that he was good at accepting advice, and he would humbly accept the right words of his retainers. Yamamoto Shigeyuki's words touched on the grand strategy related to the survival and development of the Takeda clan, which naturally attracted Yoshishige's strong attention.

In fact, since taking over Tajima, Yoshishige has fallen into a panic and sense of crisis. As Yamamoto Shigeyuki said, up to now, the development strategy of the Wakasa Takeda clan has been vague, and has been in a state of being led by external forces.

Whether it was resisting Asakura, defeating Isshiki, defeating Yamana, or suppressing the "Miyagawa Rebellion" and the Itsumi Rebellion, they were all counterattacks in a passive state.

Although both ended with Yoshishige's victory and brought some benefits to the Takeda clan, these were all at the expense of the Takeda clan's free development. The end result was that the Takeda clan formed its current awkward territory, which is long and narrow and not conducive to defense.

In addition, as a modern person who traveled through time, Yoshishige's thinking is not fully open. He still wants to use important historical events to gain a wave of development, rather than actively, boldly and independently seeking breakthroughs.

This caused the Takeda clan, under his leadership, to move forward quickly at one moment and stagnate at another, like an earthworm slowly wriggling on the timeline of history. This rhythmless "passive advancement" also made Yoshishige himself and the Takeda clan's retainers feel awkward and uneasy.

"I understand what you said," Yoshitaka nodded and admitted, "I have succeeded the head of the family for more than a year. Although I have made many achievements, I am still in a state of passive defense or defensive counterattack. I have neither the time nor the energy to carefully conceive and build a development path that suits the Takeda family's own reality. This is what I am deeply worried and uneasy about."

"Since you have already noticed the hidden dangers, I would like to have a good talk with you today."

Yamamoto Shigeyuki's expression was still serious, but his brows had relaxed a little. "In ancient times, Zhuge Kongming divided the world into three parts in the 'Longzhong Plan'. Today, I, a humble minister, would like to discuss with you how and where our family should develop next. As long as this path is decided, my lord will understand why I think it is not a bad idea to send troops to Aki."

"Then I'll trouble you, Shigeyuki." Yoshishige bowed slightly to greet Yamamoto Shigeyuki.

"You should have heard from my analysis just now that Hosokawa Kyojo, Rokkaku, and Asakura cannot engage in direct conflict at the moment. Moreover, the Kanrei and Dansho are currently on good terms with the main family, so there is no reason to turn against them. As the saying goes, don't use the weapon when you are about to kill a rat. Without a legitimate reason, we cannot casually engage in conflict with affiliated forces such as Hatano and Asai."

"In this way, the roads to the south and east are blocked." Yi Zhong sighed.

"That's how it looks now," Yamamoto Shigeyuki nodded. "So, we can only move westward."

"Isn't it Tajima to the west? Our family has just reached peace with the two mountain names. If we use military force against them, it will probably arouse suspicion from the surrounding daimyo, especially the Amago clan, who might even intervene forcefully." Hearing about the development towards the west, Yoshishige couldn't help but worry.

"To the west is not necessarily Tajima, it can also be Harima." Yamamoto Shigeyuki reminded, "Besides, the current Amago Clan is no longer ruled by the 'Wolf of the Cloud State' and the 'Governor of the Eleven States', Tsunehisa, but by his grandson, Amago Akihisa. Although the Amago Clan is now a behemoth, it is not invincible."

"You mean, our family is going to head west to compete with the Amago clan?" Yoshishige was a little surprised. After all, with his full strength of 300,000 stones, he was not at the same level as the overlord of Sanin, the Amago clan. It was a blessing to be able to maintain peace with them, let alone defeat them.

"Given the current situation, my lord, is there any other way to go besides attacking westward?" Yamamoto Shigeyuki also knew that the Niwa clan was still powerful, but he could smell something different from the recent movements of Niwa Akihisa.

"The weather was hot a few days ago, and I had some free time to visit Shigegoro (Kumagaya Takanao) at Konosumiyama Castle. I learned from him that since Lord Nagakuni retired three years ago, the new head of the Amago family has been using foreign troops to prove his ability. For a time, war broke out in Sanin and Sanyo, and every powerful family and countryman was in danger."

After hearing what Yamamoto Shigeyuki said, Yoshishige seemed to remember the attacks launched by Akihisa Niwa on all fronts in recent years.

First, in August of the year he ascended the throne, that is, in the sixth year of Tenbun (1537), Akihisa Amago seized the Iwami Omori Ginzan, known as the "Warring States military assets", from the Ouchi clan. At the end of the year, he launched an expedition to Harima and defeated Akamatsu Masamura (later renamed Akamatsu Harumasa), the guardian of Bizen, Mimasaka, and Harima, in Takasago.

From 1538 to 1539, they successively captured Tatsuno Castle and Ega Castle. Akamatsu Masamura first took refuge in Bessho Noriharu in Higashiharima, but was forced to flee Harima to Awaji and Sakai Port due to the peace agreement between Bessho and Amago. Amago Akihisa then gradually subdued the local powerful families and successfully brought Nishiharima under his command.

Afterwards, the complacent Akihisa turned his attention to the indecisive Mori Motonari and decided to suppress Aki and Bingo to eliminate the worries of the future eastward conquest. In November of the eighth year of Tenbun (1539), he held a meeting in Tsukiyama Tomita Castle and decided to go on an expedition to Aki to attack the Mori clan despite the opposition of his generals.

"I remember that not long ago, Akihisa Niwa also conquered the Mori clan, who also belonged to Aki?" Yoshishige asked. "Indeed, it happened last month." Yamamoto Shigeyuki nodded, "But surprisingly, the Niwa army was repelled. It seems that the Mori clan is no ordinary family."

The battle that Yoshishige and Yamamoto Shigeyuki were referring to was the advance battle between the Amago clan and the Mori clan in June of this year.

At that time, Akihisa Amago sent Kunihisa Amago with 3,000 cavalrymen from the Shingu Party as the vanguard, bypassing Bingo and advancing towards Yoshida-gunyama Castle.

However, when the Shingu Party reached Kodachi Castle, they encountered stubborn resistance from the Shishido clan, an ally of the Mori clan. Later, in the Battle of Inukaitai, they were defeated by Shishido Motogen and Takaie with rolling logs and rocks, and this advance battle ended in failure.

"Do you think our family can take advantage of the defeat of the Amago clan and launch an attack on them from Harima?" Yoshishige asked.

"That's not the case. Although the Amago clan was defeated, their strength was not damaged." Yamamoto Shigeyuki denied Yoshishige's speculation. "Look, the Amago clan seized the silver mine of the Ouchi clan and attacked the vassal of the Ouchi clan, which is equivalent to tearing their relationship with the Ouchi clan. If the main clan formed an alliance with the Ouchi clan at this time, wouldn't the situation be opened up all of a sudden?"

"Form an alliance with the Ouchi family?!" Yoshishige was stunned for a moment, "It's indeed a good idea, but if we do this, won't we be making enemies with the Amago family for no reason?"

"Making enemies? In this chaotic world, there are no permanent enemies, and even fewer permanent friends. If you always think about maintaining peace with the surrounding daimyo, and don't fight this one today and don't provoke that one tomorrow, how can the Takeda clan develop?"

Yamamoto Shigeyuki's words made Yoshishige feel deeply ashamed. As a time traveler with a God's perspective, he actually couldn't see things as clearly as Yamamoto Shigeyuki.

"My lord, there is no need to worry. The Amago clan will attack the main clan just because they have formed an alliance with the Ouchi clan. After all, their defense focus should be on the west, in Iwami and Aki, and the Ouchi is their biggest threat." Yamamoto Shigeyuki said firmly.

"Given the strength of the Niwa family, the offensive from all sides is doomed to fail in the long run, and will eventually backfire.

What the lord has to do is to wait for the opportunity, and in the process, gradually erode and rebel against the Nizi clan's territory and people in Harima and Tajima, quietly strengthening his own strength. When the Nizi clan, this behemoth, is about to collapse, he will go up and give it a fatal blow. "

"It sounds like a good idea to unite with the Ouchi clan and attack the Amago clan from the east and west." Yoshitaka nodded heavily, thinking that Amago Akihisa would soon be defeated at Yoshida-koriyama Castle, and Amago Nobunaga would die of illness soon. By then, relying on the Ouchi clan to contain the Amago clan, he should be able to gain certain results in Tajima and Harima.

"Not only that, forming an alliance with the Ouchi family can also protect the safety of the Takeda clan in An-gi. As long as they are safe, the righteousness of the main family in An-gi can be maintained." Yamamoto Shigeyuki continued.

"The Takeda clan in Aki had two counties taken away by the Ouchi clan, and they were sworn enemies with the Mori clan, so they have always stood on the side of the Amago clan. I really don't know how to make them put aside their past grudges and reach peace with the Ouchi clan, and I don't know whether the Ouchi clan is willing to let them go."

Yoshishige's worries were not without reason. The Takeda clan of Aki was surrounded by the Ouchi and Mori clans on three sides. They had always been a thorn in Aki planted by the Amago clan and a threat to the Ouchi clan. It was indeed not an easy task to persuade the two families to reach peace.

However, Yamamoto Shigeyuki has a unique view on this: "The reason why the Ouchi clan wanted to get rid of the Aki Takeda clan was because the clan was vassalized by the Amago clan. If the clan surrendered to the Ouchi clan instead, and the alliance between the main family and the Ouchi clan was a guarantee, would it be difficult to keep the Aki Takeda clan?"

"I can consider the alliance, but our family doesn't have the influence to get the Takeda clan in Aki to join the Ouchi clan, right?" Yoshishige asked.

"It didn't exist before, but if His Highness Hikorokuro becomes the new head of the Takeda clan in Aki, won't it exist?" Yamamoto Shigeyuki asked in return.

"But there are still some retainers in Ginzan Castle (the residence of the Akitada clan) who are still brooding over what happened back then. It will be difficult to get them to agree to switch to the Ouchi clan," Yoshishige said worriedly.

"So, when I first arrived, I said that it would be a good idea to send troops to escort Lord Hikorokuro to Aki," replied Yamamoto Shigeyuki.

"I understand. You hope that the main family can send troops to intimidate the Amago faction in Ginzan Castle so that they dare not act rashly." Yoshishige suddenly realized, "With the main family's military power and the support of the Ouchi faction in the family, the Takeda clan in Aki can turn around and dock at the Ouchi clan's dock."

"But I still have some concerns." Yoshishige's cautious character was revealed here. "What if this angers the Amago clan and causes the Aki Takeda clan to be attacked by them?"

"The Takeda clan in Aki is surrounded by the forces of the Ouchi clan. How can the Amago clan defeat them? Moreover, the Takeda clan is close to the Minister of Defense. The Ouchi clan will not sit idly by and watch the Amago army come to their doorstep."

After that, Yamamoto Shigeyuki sighed and said, "My lord, you should think about how many troops to send and which of your family members to send with you."

"The Takeda clan of Aki only has 30,000 to 50,000 koku directly under their control. I think sending 500 troops will be enough."

Yoshishige knew that a large number of the retainers of the Takeda clan in Aki were neutral or pro-Ouchi, and only a small number of people such as the Shinagawa clan opposed peace with the Ouchi clan. With the support of important retainers such as Kagawa Mitsukage and 500 troops, Hikorokuro should be able to gain a firm foothold in Aki.

"As for who to send with him..." Yizhong thought for a moment and gave a direction: "Yokuro is only sixteen years old and has no experience in worldly affairs. We must find someone who is prestigious, capable, and able to calm down the situation to accompany him."

"Why not let Hoshinji-dono go?" After thinking for a long time, Yoshishige suddenly said, "Yes, let Hoshinji-dono go, but he is old and can't go alone. Let me discuss with Shirai Tamebe and let Sukejiro (Shirai Kiyotane) go. I have a deep impression of his arrow shot under Tanabe Castle."

"Sukejiro was indeed brave as he shot and killed Isshiki Yoshiyuki with one arrow. I have no objection to sending him there. But as for Hoshinji-den... I'm worried that he may not be willing to do so," Yamamoto Shigeyuki said worriedly.

"For the sake of the survival of the Takeda clan in Aki, he will definitely agree." Yoshishige said firmly, "There is actually another reason why I invited him to go, which is to serve as an envoy of the main family to visit the Ouchi clan." (End of this chapter)