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

Chapter 43 Going to Luoyang
There are three main routes from Shinano to Kyoto.

One option is to head north into Echigo Province, taking the Hokuriku Route through Kaga, Echizen, Wakasa, and Omi before reaching Kyoto.

The second option is to head south along the Mikawa, Owari, and Omi line.

The third option, chosen by Nobuyuki Sanada, is to travel west from Shinano into Mino and then through Omi to Kyoto.

The first two roads are main roads, suitable for large armies, but they are longer. Sanada Nobuyuki only brought a dozen or so Sanada samurai with him, so taking the side road would be faster.

"Lord Genzaburo, I plan to stay in Kyoto for a while after this trip to Kyoto. I am grateful for the Sanada family's care during this time."

"When I return to Shinano in the future, I will definitely pay a visit to express my gratitude."

On the outskirts of Kyoto, Teruhisa Yamagami and Nobuyuki Sanada parted ways.

In order to pursue the way of the samurai, Yamagami Teruhisa left the Sano family and lived in the Sanada family territory for a few months, where he became very close to Sanada Nobushige.

However, after Sanada Nobushige went to Echigo as a hostage, Yamagami Teruhisa decided to leave.

It just so happened that Nobuyuki Sanada was going to Kyoto, so Teruhisa Yamagami came along with him.

"Lord Yamagami, the cost of living in Kyoto is not as high as in Kanto. Here are ten kan of coins, please accept them as a token of my appreciation." Sanada Nobuyuki himself was poor and had not brought much money with him to Kyoto this time. These ten kan were a sum he had painstakingly saved.

Teruhisa Yamagami looked at Nobuyuki Sanada with emotion, "Lord Genzaburo, until we meet again!"

Even after Teruhisa Yamagami had completely left, Nobuyuki Sanada still couldn't bring himself to say the words he most wanted to say.

Sanada Nobuyuki naturally wanted to win over these "Sano Four Heavenly Kings" who were currently out of power.

As the Sanada family's territory grew larger, their biggest shortage became talented individuals.

However, Teruhisa Yamagami was no country bumpkin. He had seen the world while living in the Sano family and was once a high-ranking retainer with a fief of several thousand koku.

Therefore, Nobuyuki Sanada knew that you can't get things done if you're too hasty.

A total of twelve Sanada retainers accompanied him on this trip to Kyoto.

These include Oyamada Shigemasa, Mochizuki Tomi no Kami Masayori, Harago Uemon no Jō, Nezu Chōemon, Nezusuke Uemon no Jō, Kasuga Yojūrō Mototada, and others, who were basically samurai relatives of the Sanada family.

The Mochizuki, Nezu, and Umino clans (the Sanada family was a branch of the Umino clan) were collectively known as the "Three Families of the Takeda." After the Takeda family was destroyed, the Mochizuki and Nezu clans joined the Sanada family.

As for Harago Uemon-no-jo, he was the grandson of Yazawa Yoritsuna, and the other one, Kasuga no Mototada, was also from the Unno clan.

"Lord Genzaburo, is this Kyoto?"

"It stretches as far as the eye can see!"

"Look over there, why are there red-haired people?"

"Southern barbarians, they are southern barbarians!"

Hearing the constant exclamations around him, Nobuyuki Sanada was speechless but also understanding.

A group of country bumpkins suddenly arrive in a big city, and everything they see and experience is full of unknown wonders.

However, Sanada Nobuyuki's gaze remained fixed on the samurai named Kasuga Yomitsu, who was trailing behind. Unlike the others who were easily startled, Kasuga Yomitsu remained remarkably calm.

While everyone else was admiring the magnificent buildings and exquisite clothing along the street, Kasuga no Yoshitada kept asking about prices and accommodations.

Seeing this, Nobuyuki Sanada nodded secretly.

Sanada Nobuyuki also intended to take these retainers along the way to do some inspections.

Compared to those powerful daimyo, the Sanada clan had far too few capable retainers.

Apart from a few people such as the Kawahara Tsuna family and Yazawa Yoriyasu and his son, Sanada Nobuyuki did not know the others.

"Yojuro, how's it going? Any progress?"

After walking around for a while, Nobuyuki Sanada stopped.

Chun Yuanzhong stepped forward and said, "Young Master, the accommodation fees in the city are too high. An inn costs three hundred coins."

"If you're planning to stay long-term, you could rent a courtyard."

"Alternatively, you can stay in temples outside the city, but they are all far away and not very convenient."

Nobuyuki Sanada nodded slightly and asked, "Have you found out where Lord Hashiba lives?" Kasuga Yomitada shook his head; this kind of information couldn't be obtained by just asking anyone.

"It's alright, let's go, let's go to the Sanjo Residence first."

"The Sanjo residence?" The group of people were immediately stunned. That was the residence of the Sanjo family. Although the current nobles were not worth mentioning, it was still not something that a country bumpkin like the Sanada family could even dream of.

Suddenly, a rumor came to their minds.

It is said that Sanada Masayuki's principal wife, Lady Yamate, was the daughter of a court noble in Kyoto. Could she be from the Sanjo family? But that shouldn't be the case. Could Lady Yamate's background be that high?

With questions in mind, Kasuga no Yotada and the others followed Sanada no Nobuyuki, asking for directions as they wandered aimlessly.

Fortunately, perseverance pays off, and they soon found the Sanjo family's residence.

As the direct descendant of the Kan'in school of the Fujiwara Hokuke family, the Sanjo clan belonged to the Seika family (second only to the Five Regent families) among the Kyoto court nobles, and were considered the top of the court nobles.

During Sanjō Kimiyori's lifetime, his three daughters married Takeda Shingen, Hosokawa Harumoto, and Honganji Shōyō, respectively. However, Sanjō Kimiyori died in the turmoil during the rebellion of Saigo Musō Suzutakafusa when he went to the Suō Ōuchi family.

Sanjo Kimiyoshi had no sons, so the Sanjo family of Ogimachi, which had split up, sent an adopted son to inherit the Sanjo family.

"Who are you?"

When a maid pushed open the door, she was almost startled to see more than a dozen people standing neatly outside.

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly stepped forward, "We come from Shinano and have something to ask of Lord Sanjo."

"Where did these country bumpkins come from? Don't they know any manners?" Upon hearing the identities of Sanada Nobuyuki and the others, even the maid stood up straight.

"There was no prior notice, no messenger (introducer), and no visiting card. Hurry up and leave."

Just as the door was about to close, Sanada Nobuyuki quickly stepped forward and blocked the doorway. "My mother is the daughter of the Sanjo family. She has come from Shinano today with a gift that she wishes to present to Lord Sanjo."

After saying that, Sanada Nobuyuki quickly waved his hand behind him, and the two brothers, Nezusuke and Uemon, ran over carrying a box.

The maid looked at him with suspicion, then said, "Wait, I'll go and report right away."

Sanada Nobuyuki waited at the door for a while longer. This time, a middle-aged man opened the door. Judging from his clothes, he should be a nobleman from Kyoto.

"I am the Grand Counselor of the Western Regions, Sanjō. Who are you?"

Upon hearing that the visitor was a junior rank, Gon Daigon, Sanada Nobuyuki quickly bowed and said, "I am Sanada Genzaburo of the Shinano Sanada clan. I have come to find my mother's family."

"Sanada?" Sanjo Nishi Koukuni murmured to himself several times, as it seemed that no one in his family had ever married into the Sanada family.

However, since Sanjo Nishi was not a member of the Sanjo family, he was unsure and could only say, "Put the things at the door and come in with me."

"what!"

"You guys wait here for a bit, don't wander off."

"Yes, young master!"

Following behind the principality of Sanjo-nishi, Nobuyuki Sanada entered the Sanjo residence.

Although it's the residence of Tsinghua University's family, it's visibly dilapidated. It's not small in scale, but it's been neglected for years, and some windows even have holes.

After bringing Sanada Nobuyuki to the audience room, Sanjo Nishi Kokukoku had someone take him to the Sanjo family's warehouse.

This place is filled with old letters and records.

After searching through the records, no letters from the Sanada family were found, and there was no mention in the past records of any woman from the Sanjo family marrying into the Sanada family.

"Could they be here to scam people?"

　Mochizuki Masayori: Commonly known as Totomi no Kami, the last head of the Mochizuki clan. After the Honnoji Incident, Mochizuki Castle was attacked by Ashida Nobuban, and Mochizuki Masayori was killed in battle at the young age of eighteen.

　　Nezu Masatsuna: Commonly known as Choemon, head of the Nezu clan. His mother was the daughter of Sanada Yukitaka. During the Tokugawa shogunate period, he served as a retainer of the Matsushiro clan.

　　Nezu Yukinao: Commonly known as Sukeemon-no-jo, Nezu Masatsune's younger brother. He served as Sanada Nobuyuki's lieutenant in the Battle of Sekigahara. His eldest son died in battle in Osaka while fighting alongside Sanada Nobushige.

　　Harago Uemon-no-jo: His real name is unknown; he belonged to the Umino clan. He fought alongside Sanada Nobuyoshi during the Siege of Osaka and died in battle at Tennoji.

　　Also, thank you to "K幽、灵S" for the 500 Qidian coins reward.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)