Japan's Sengoku Period: The Sanada Clan's Ambition

Chapter 4 Oda Nobunaga? May he live a long life!
At this time, the Oda clan could be said to be invincible.

While attacking the Takeda clan, the Oda clan was also launching attacks from three other directions simultaneously.

To the north, the Hokuriku Army Corps, led by Shibata Katsuie, is attacking the Uesugi clan, and the two sides are engaged in fierce fighting at Uozu Castle in Etchu.

To the west, Toyotomi Hideyoshi is also launching a fierce attack on the Mori clan, and has already surrounded Takamatsu Castle in Bitchu.

At the same time, Oda Nobunaga was also making war plans in the face of Chōsokabe Motochika in Shikoku.

It can be said that the Oda clan was very close to unifying the country.

Sanada Masayuki ignored Sanada Nobuyuki's "joke" and continued, "This time, you, Genzaburo, will be in charge of leading the troops, and I will have Matajiro (Kawahara Tsunaie) assist you."

Because Nobuyuki Sanada displayed eloquence and insight far beyond his peers, Masayuki Sanada, who had always regarded Nobuyuki Sanada as his successor, naturally intended to train him.

This time, the Sanada clan is just there to make up the numbers under Takigawa Kazumasu's command, so the scale of the war won't be too large. It's a good opportunity for them to train.

"The Uesugi clan is currently focusing its main efforts on the Echigo-Chu region, and only a small number of Uesugi vassals in Shinano are loyal to the clan, so this battle will not be very intense."

"Stand by Takikawa-sama's side and learn from him."

“This is a samurai renowned throughout the land.” Perhaps worried that Sanada Nobuyuki might disregard his words, Sanada Masayuki made a point of emphasizing this.

Nobuyuki Sanada naturally nodded in agreement.

Although the scale of battles during Japan's Sengoku period, especially in the early and middle stages, was generally small, and the various battles were quite abstract.

But those who can make a name for themselves in this chaotic world are naturally not ordinary people.

After leaving the palace, Sanada Nobuyuki returned to his residence.

Toishi Castle is not large; it is a mountain castle built on a hilltop. When Takeda Shingen attacked Murakami Yoshikiyo, he suffered a great loss at this castle (the Toishi Collapse Incident).

The Sanada family residence is located on a hillside in the middle of Toishi Castle. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Sanada Nobuyuki sensed that the atmosphere in the house was somewhat unusual.

Stopping a maidservant, Sanada Nobuyuki asked, "Has something happened at home?"

The maid looked troubled, glanced around, and then whispered, "It's... it's Lord Rokuzaemon."

When he first heard the name, Nobuyuki Sanada was taken aback, but he quickly realized that this Rokuzaemon was his brother-in-law, Shigeaki Oyamada.

Oyamada Shigemasa was born into the Kai Oyamada clan, a senior retainer of the Takeda family. He married Matsu, the eldest daughter of Sanada Masayuki (Matsu's real name was Okuni, but she was called "Muramatsu-dono" because she lived in Muramatsu-go, and later films and television dramas used the name Omatsu).

At this critical juncture, Oyamada Shigeaki's appearance in Toishi Castle clearly indicates that the Oyamada family has already been purged.

Speaking of the Oyamada clan, they were a very powerful vassal in Kai Province, with close ties to the Takeda clan, and were considered very important retainers of the Takeda clan.

However, not long ago, Oyamada Nobushige betrayed the Takeda clan and surrendered to Oda, which directly led to Takeda Katsuyori's defeat and death, earning him the infamy of "betraying his lord".

Afterwards, Oyayamada Nobushige's actions were regarded as "betrayal" by the Oda clan. Instead of forgiving him, they executed him.

As a retainer of the Oyamada clan, Oyamada Shigemasa came to Toishi Castle to escape peril.

Because of the "Takeda Pursuit Order" issued by the Oda clan, Oyamada Nobushige was obviously also a "wanted criminal" at this time.

After passing through the corridor, Nobuyuki Sanada entered the backyard.

At that moment, Masayuki Sanada's wife, Mrs. Yamate, was holding a woman's hand with tears in her eyes, and said excitedly, "It's good that you're back. It's a blessing that you're alright."

Asong threw herself into Mrs. Yamate's arms, and the mother and daughter embraced and wept.

Beside the two, a disheveled samurai sat with his head drooping, looking dejected.

"Mother."

"Sister, brother-in-law."

Nobuyuki Sanada strode over.

Upon hearing Nobuyuki Sanada's voice, Shigemasa Oyamada shuddered and instinctively wanted to slip away.

Asong turned around, wiped away his tears, and looked at Sanada Nobuyuki, saying, "Gensaburo, your brother-in-law was not involved in the incident at Iwadono Castle. He was out procuring provisions at the time and was not inside the castle." "Sister, you are joking. Our family is now a vassal of the Oda clan, so there is no need to mention this matter again."

Hearing this, Asong felt slightly relieved, but still said nervously, "But recently the Oda clan has been carrying out a large-scale crackdown on the remnants of the Takeda clan. What about your brother-in-law's identity?"

Sanada Nobuyuki sat down beside them. "Don't worry, sister. Brother-in-law is family with us. Now that we're in Toishi Castle, everything will be fine."

"Brother-in-law, how have you been?" Sanada Nobuyuki greeted Oyamada Shigeaki warmly.

Oyamada Shigeaki quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "Gensaburo, it's so good to hear you say that!"

"From this day forward, I will serve my father-in-law as a retainer of the Sanada family."

“Our clan is going to send troops in a couple of days. Would you be willing to go with us, brother-in-law?” Sanada Nobuyuki suggested.

Oyamada Shigeaki nodded quickly, "I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse."

After the two exchanged a few words, Mrs. Yamate, who was standing nearby, also spoke up, "But what about your father?"

"Mother, don't worry. If Father didn't have permission, do you think my brother-in-law could have entered the city so easily?"

During this period, Sanada Masayuki gathered a large number of samurai who had fled from Kai, Shinano and other places. Although Sanada Masayuki kept it well hidden, Sanada Nobuyuki was quite aware of it.

This incident also shows that Sanada Masayuki had no sense of belonging to the Oda clan and was only outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant of some of the Oda clan's orders.

Of course, samurai like Oyamada Shigemasa were not particularly important figures. Even if they were discovered, they would not incur the wrath of the Oda family, and at most they would be slightly punished.

Moreover, Tokugawa Ieyasu next door did the same thing.

Besides, the Oda clan doesn't have many more days to cause trouble.

You mean Oda Nobunaga?

May he live a long life!

As war mobilization began, warriors have been entering the castle of Tishite in recent days.

Yamate-dono and Asatsu, along with the other women in their household, gathered the women to prepare provisions for the samurai of the Sanada clan who were going into battle.

Various rice balls, water jugs (made of bamboo tubes), straw sandals and other handicrafts quickly filled the warehouses of Dishi City.

Nobuyuki Sanada has been extremely busy these past two days, as he needs to coordinate with the arriving samurai, verify their numbers, and check their equipment.

Many of these things were new to me, and I felt a bit lost.

Fortunately, with the assistance of the Kawahara Tsuna family, although the progress was slow, everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

The Kawahara clan were hereditary retainers of the Umino clan. Sanada Masayuki's mother, Kyouun-in, was from the Kawahara clan. Kawahara Tsuna's father and Kyouun-in were siblings.

After the decline of the Umino clan, the Kawara clan came under the control of the Sanada family.

Originally, Kawahara Tsuna had three older brothers, but they all died in the Battle of Nagashino, so he inherited the Kawahara clan.

"This is the Takanashi Naiki. The Takanashi clan owns nine plots of land in Uehara village, with a yield of 45 koku." Kawahara Tsunaie introduced the samurai who had come to report to Sanada Nobuyuki one by one.

Sanada Nobuyuki nodded, then looked behind Takanashi Naiki. There were three armed foot soldiers, plus himself, which met the Takanashi clan's military service standards.

Then Sanada Nobuyuki found Takanashi Naiki's name in the military service list and put a checkmark next to it.

"Next!"

　Kawahara Tsunaie: Sanada Yukitaka's nephew, who has served the Sanada family since Sanada Yukitaka's time.

　　He is very capable, but somewhat tactless.

　　Historically, when Sanada Masayuki and his son had a private conversation, the Kawahara Tsuna family eavesdropped outside.

　　After being discovered, his front teeth were broken by Sanada Masayuki, causing him to speak with a lisp. This incident was recorded in the relevant historical materials of the Sanada family.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)