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

"According to you, the Suga clan is a force that can compete with the Kusakari clan?" Kumagai Takashi asked.

"We can't say we're fighting back, we can only say we're barely holding on." Unomura Yoshi replied, "To be honest, if it weren't for the support of the Amago clan in recent years, the Suga clan might not have been able to withstand the invasion of the Kusakari clan."

"However, according to the information I received, the Amago army withdrew not only from Harima, but also from Mimasaka and Bizen," said Kumagai Takashi.

Unomura nodded and said, "Yes, the Amago army has gradually withdrawn from these three countries. Without their support, the Suga clan will suffer. Not only them, but also my in-laws, the Shinmen clan of Takeyama Castle, will probably have a hard time."

The Shinmen clan came from the Tokudaiji family of the Fujiwara no Kita clan. They came to Mimasaka during the Kenmu Restoration (1333-1336) and once served as a vassal of the Akamatsu clan, managing estates such as Awai, Hiroyama, and Yoshino.

In 1480, the family was conquered by the Yamana clan, and the then head, Shinmen Nagashige, was killed in battle, but his orphan, Shinmen Sadashige, fled to the territory of the Uno clan, a maternal relative, and later restored the family name with the help of the Uno clan. By the time the current head, Shinmen Munemasa, succeeded to the throne, the family had become a force that could not be underestimated in the northern part of Katsukita and Yoshino counties.

It was precisely because of the kindness they showed us back then that the Uno clan and the Shinmen clan had been on friendly terms for generations, with the latter becoming another group of people who, in addition to the Suga clan, could "shelter the Uno clan from the wind and rain."

In the northern part of Mimasaka, a situation has basically formed in which the Kusakari clan is the only dominant one, while the Suga clan and the Shinmen clan jointly check and balance each other.

After Kusakari Hiratsugu ascended the throne, the power of the Kusakari clan increased greatly. The Suga clan and the Shinmen clan began to have difficulty resisting, especially the Suga clan. Many families among them were conquered or surrendered by the Kusakari clan, and the situation was not optimistic.

Fortunately, at this time, Akihisa Niwa led his army into Mimasaka and fought with the Kusakari clan. Although he failed to subdue Kusakari Kōtsugu, he decided to preserve his strength, so he did not dare to easily use force against the surrounding forces.

The Suga clan and the Shinmen clan seized the opportunity to submit to Akihisa Niwa, who was also willing to support these two forces to counter the Kusakari clan, and the two sides hit it off immediately.

Subsequently, with the support of the Amago clan, the Suga clan and the Shinmen clan were finally able to curb the offensive of Kusakari Hiratsugu and basically achieved a balance in northern Mimasaka.

Now that the Amago army has withdrawn from Bimasaka, the Suga clan and the Shinmen clan are naturally silent, fearing that the Kusakari clan, who have recovered from their shock, will take the opportunity to launch an attack, so they are in a state of panic all day long.

After listening to Unomura Yoshiro's story about the grievances between the three families, Kumagai Ryuichi's mind quickly turned. After thinking again and again, he suddenly said: "Shimosuke, if that's the case, why don't you persuade the Suga clan and the Shinmen clan to accept the protection of the main family?"

"Accept your protection?!" Unomura Lai asked in disbelief, "You mean, the Takeda family is willing to provide them with protection?"

Kumagai Takashige did not answer directly, but looked at Shirai Mitsutane beside him. After receiving his nod of approval, he replied: "That's right, just like the Amago family, the main family is willing to provide them with protection, but the premise is that they surrender to the main family and agree to one condition of the main family."

"Since you have accepted the protection of the Takeda family, you must show your submission." Unomura nodded seriously, "But, I wonder what the 'one condition' you mentioned is?"

"It's not that difficult to say," Kumagai Takashi replied, "It means going with the main family to attack the Kusakari clan."

"Go to attack the Kusakari clan?!" Unomura Yoshiro was horrified and asked again in disbelief: "You mean, we are going to Mimasaka to attack the Kusakari clan?!" Kumagai Takashi nodded: "Go and ask them if they are willing. If they are willing, gather the troops within five days. I will lead the Takeda army to join them in Mimasaka. At that time, we will directly attack Takayama Castle!"

Upon hearing this, Yunomura Lai said with difficulty:
"But Takayama Castle is the home of the Kusakari clan, with tight defenses and strong fortifications, and more than a thousand soldiers are stationed there at any time. Forgive me for being frank, but of the two thousand men you have, you should leave at least seven or eight hundred to guard the city of Harima, right?
The remaining 1,200 people, even if we add the troops of the main family, the Suga family, and the Shinmen family, there are only about 4,000 people at most. It is really a stretch to rely on these troops to attack the fortress."

On the other hand, Kumagai Takashige looked solemn and his eyes were firm:

"To be honest, our family must take down Takayama Castle, and we must also destroy the Kusakari clan.

According to the information I have received so far, there are at most 300 soldiers in Gaoshan City. If you are willing to follow me, I will speak well of you in front of the lord afterwards. If you are not willing, I will not force you. I just hope that you can make way for me to pass through your territory and reach Gaoshan City directly."

"Three hundred troops? My Lord, you mean that there are only three hundred troops in the huge Takayama Castle? How is this possible..." Unomura Yoshitaka couldn't believe it. "Besides, Kusakari Kaga-no-kami can easily mobilize more than two thousand troops. You think we can take down Takayama Castle and destroy the Kusakari family with just our few men? I don't believe it."

"If you knew why I wanted to take Takayama Castle, you wouldn't say that," said Kumagai Takashi.

"Please give me some advice, sir." Unomura Lai bowed and asked.

"You are right. Kusakari can indeed mobilize more than 2,000 people. In fact, so far, he has mobilized nearly 2,500 people." Kumagai Takashi nodded in approval, but then changed the subject:
"But among these people, at least 2,200 have been transferred to Inaba Yodoyama Castle. According to the news from the main ninja, most of the original 800 defenders in Takayama Castle have also been transferred away. Now there are less than 300 people left in the city, and many of them are old and weak soldiers who have retreated from the front line. More than 3,000 people are enough to deal with these guys."

"You said Kaga no Kami mobilized more than 2,000 troops to Yodoyama Castle?" Unomura Rai couldn't help but ask curiously, "What on earth happened in Yodoyama Castle?"

"What happened? Of course, there was a war." Kumagai Takanao answered, "As early as twelve days ago, the lord had already ordered a war against the Kusakari clan. Now, the outer branch castles of Yodoyama Castle have basically been conquered. The Kusakari clan's former residence has now become an isolated castle."

"Sir, you mean that Kaga no Kami and most of the Kusakari army are trapped in Yodoyama Castle?!" Unomura Yoshitsugu was both surprised and happy. He did not expect that the previously so arrogant Kusakari Tsunetsugu would be forced into such a desperate situation by the newly arrived Takeda army.

"May I ask how many troops Wuweidian brought to the expedition to Yodoyama Castle this time? With so few people, I'm afraid they won't be able to trap Kaga no Kami." Unomura Yasushi was still a little worried, fearing that in the future, when the battle for Takayama Castle is halfway through, the Kusakari army would break through the encirclement and rush back for emergency support. In that case, he would be put in a passive position.

"The combined forces of our main family and the Yamana clan have a total of more than 7,000 people!" Kumagai Takashige answered confidently.

"Oh my god, seven thousand people!" Unomura opened his mouth unconsciously, stammering in surprise:
"If...if we add the two thousand people on your side, the Takeda family has mobilized more than nine thousand people this time! I have never seen such a large army in my life, and I never thought that such a large-scale army would appear at the junction of Yin, Zuo, and Bo!"

"Now, Your Highness, are you still worried that Kaga-no-kami will escape the encirclement?" Kumagai Takashi asked with a rather teasing smile. (End of this chapter)