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

Chapter 47: Going to Owari, Hideyoshi Goes on a Killing Spree
Kiyosu Castle is located in the heart of the Oda clan's territory.

When Oda Nobutada was still alive, Owari and Mino were both his territories.

After the Kiyosu Conference, Owari was given to Oda Nobuo, while Mino was given to Oda Nobutaka.

As for the nominal head of the clan, Oda Nobutada's eldest son, Sanboshi, he only received Azuchi Castle in Omi Province and part of the territory in Sakata District.

Traveling north from Kyoto, they passed through Azuchi Castle, but Hideyoshi Hashiba did not enter the castle and instead turned east. While passing through Sakata District in Omi Province, Hideyoshi and his party stayed overnight at Kamiraji Castle before entering Owari Province.

"Lord Hashiba, isn't the Hall of the Three Mages located in Azuchi Castle?"

On the way, Sanada Nobuyuki asked curiously. According to the results of the Kiyosu Conference, the Three Masters' residence should be Oda Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle.

It would have been better if this hadn't been mentioned, because once it was, Hideyoshi Hashiba, who was riding on his horse, became furious.

"Hmph, Sanjiro (Oda Nobutaka) was worried about the safety of the Sanboshi and left him in Kiyosu Castle."

"What security? Isn't it just about controlling the three monks to gain power in the household?" Hideyoshi Hashiba addressed Oda Nobutaka by his common name, Sanshichiro, instead of using the title "Servant" (an official title, Junior Fifth Rank), which is enough to prove that Hideyoshi Hashiba harbored great resentment towards Oda Nobutaka.

As for the three monks, Hideyoshi Hashiba certainly wanted them.

If the head of the Oda clan were in his own hands, Hideyoshi would be able to handle some things much more easily.

"Qingzhou City is just ahead. I've already informed you. Come, follow me into the city!"

At the same time, the Oda brothers Nobutaka and Nobuo learned that Hashiba Hideyoshi had come to Kiyosu Castle, and immediately felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Oda Nobuo was the second son of Oda Nobunaga, and his mother was Ikoma Yoshino.

Oda Nobutaka was Oda Nobunaga's third son, and his mother was another concubine.

"What are monkeys doing in Qingzhou City at this time?"

"Could they be here to demand the Three Masters?" Oda Nobutaka asked nervously.

Oda Nobuo was at a loss, so he had to summon Hori Hidemasa, who was serving as the Grand Tutor (or Grand Preceptor) of the Three Dharma Masters.

When Hori Hidemasa entered the assessment room, he saw the Oda brothers, Nobutaka and Nobunaga, with worried expressions.

"You two need not worry. Lord Hashiba is here for Lord Nobunaga's funeral." After they were seated, Hori Hidemasa first reassured Oda Nobutaka and Oda Nobuo.

Sure enough, after hearing Hori Hidemasa say that, their expressions softened slightly.

But Oda Nobutaka immediately added, "Didn't I already order the construction of my father's tomb at Honno-ji Temple?"

"Lord Hashiba seems to have a different opinion. Perhaps we should wait until Lord Hashiba arrives before discussing this further?" Hori Hidemasa did not intend to say more; his current position required him to maintain absolute neutrality.

Oda Nobutaka and his companion exchanged a glance, and could only wait patiently.

Soon, Hideyoshi Hashiba entered the judging room, followed by Nobuyuki Sanada.

None of them had ever seen Sanada Nobuyuki before, so they mistook him for a close aide of Hashiba Hideyoshi and ignored him.

Sanada Nobuyuki found a place to sit down near the entrance. Given his current status, he was already fortunate to be able to enter the assessment room thanks to Hashiba Hideyoshi.

"What brings Chikuzen no Kami here today?" Oda Nobutaka, unable to contain himself, asked first.

Hideyoshi Hashiba replied, "I have come for the funeral of my lord."

"Furthermore, the Sanada clan of Shinano has already defeated the Shinano lords who launched the uprising, and Shinano province has returned to the vassalage of my Oda clan."

"The Sanada family has sent an envoy requesting that our clan recognize the territories controlled by the Sanada family. I must explain this matter to my lord (Sanboshi)."

“We have not heard of the Sanada family’s affairs, so why did the Chikuzen no Kami know about them first?” Oda Nobutaka’s expression was somewhat unfriendly.

Ever since the Kiyosu Castle meeting, Oda Nobutaka has held a very negative view of Hashiba Hideyoshi.

Although he was the commander-in-chief in the campaign against Akechi Mitsuhide, Hashiba Hideyoshi always referred to himself as the "slayer of Mitsuhide," which greatly angered Oda Nobutaka.

Before the Honnoji Incident, Oda Nobutaka was stationed at Sakai Port as the commander-in-chief of the Shikoku Expeditionary Army.

However, because his army was all hastily conscripted, and the Kyoto region was in chaos after the Honnoji Incident, Oda Nobutaka's men fled without understanding the situation.

It wasn't until Hideyoshi Hashiba returned from the Chugoku region that he installed Nobutaka Oda as the commander-in-chief of the punitive expedition, thus gaining a legitimate claim. When questioned by Nobutaka Oda, Hideyoshi Hashiba pointed to Nobuyuki Sanada behind him, "That is Sanada Genzaburo, the envoy of the Sanada family. We just happened to meet in Kyoto."

"Regarding Shinano, I believe the Sanada family played a crucial role, and their territory should be granted permission."

“Shinano is the territory of Mori Musashi-no-kami and Mori Kawachi-no-kami. Even if it is taken back, it should be returned to the two of them,” Oda Nobuo said from the side.

Hideyoshi Hashiba quit.

"It's a great favor that Mori Nagayoshi and Mori Nagahide didn't hold them accountable for abandoning their territory without permission!"

“Shinano was reclaimed by the Sanada family and should rightfully belong to the Sanada.” Once Oda Nobukatsu and Oda Nobutaka objected, the nature of the matter changed.

The issue of Shinano's ownership directly escalated into a matter of the Oda clan's power, and Hideyoshi Hashiba was unlikely to concede.

Oda Nobutaka and Oda Nobuo also realized this and naturally argued their case. But the more they argued, the less Hashiba Hideyoshi would budge, and the two sides soon started arguing.

Nobuyuki Sanada could only sit quietly in the corner and observe; he had no right to speak in this situation.

"All right!"

Just when the two sides were deadlocked, Hori Hidemasa stepped in as a peacemaker.

"The Hojo clan is still launching a major offensive against Shinano and Kai. What's the point of arguing about this here?"

"If the Musashi and Kawachi governors are unwilling to give up their territories, we can simply let them lead their troops back to Shinano to fight the Hojo clan."

Hori Hidemasa's words seemed to be neither side's help, but those in the know understood that it was tantamount to acknowledging that Shinano should be assigned to the Sanada family.

Because Mori Nagayoshi's current territory of Mino is experiencing a rebellion among his retainers, he has no spare resources. Furthermore, Mori Nagahide has no soldiers at all; he can't very well go and fight the Hojo clan alone, can he?
Upon hearing this, Oda Nobutaka and Oda Nobuo both fell silent.

Seeing this, Hideyoshi Hashiba immediately made a decision: "Put the Shinano matter aside for now. I have already arranged for the lord's funeral to be held at Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto next month."

Oda Nobuo and his companion had little objection to the first part of the statement, since the die was cast.

But the second half of the sentence really stirred up a hornet's nest.

Oda Nobutaka suddenly looked up. "Who is the chief mourner?"

"Tamba Mamoru."

As soon as Hideyoshi Hashiba finished speaking, Nobutaka Oda and Nobuo Oda stood up at the same time.

"How is this possible?"

The Tanba no Kami mentioned by Hashiba Hideyoshi was Oda Nobunaga's fourth son, and also Hashiba Hidekatsu, Hashiba Hideyoshi's adopted son.

Hashiba Hidekatsu was born to Oda Nobunaga's concubine, "Yokanin," and had a younger sister who married Gamo Ujisato.

"What qualifications does Tanba no Kami have to serve as the chief mourner?"

"Why isn't Tanba-no-kami qualified?" Hashiba Hideyoshi immediately retorted sharply.

Oda Nobutaka opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back.

He was just about to say that Hidekatsu Hashiba had been adopted out, but then he suddenly remembered that he and Nobuo Oda had also been adopted out.

Oda Nobutaka succeeded to the Kobe clan of Ise Province, while Oda Nobukatsu succeeded to the Kitabatake clan.

“Even so, the chief mourner should rightfully be the Three Masters,” Oda Nobuo said resentfully from the side.

Hideyoshi Hashiba smiled slightly, "If it is Lord Sanboshi, I have no objection. How about we have Lord Sanboshi go to Kyoto to preside over the funeral?"

Lore!

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(End of this chapter)