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

Chapter 48 The Most Beautiful Woman of the Warring States Period
The most suitable person to be chosen for Oda Nobunaga's funeral would naturally be Oda Nobutada's eldest son, Sanboshi.

However, if the Three Masters were to go to Kyoto to preside over the funeral, it would mean they would be out of the control of Oda Nobutaka and Oda Nobukatsu, which would be tantamount to handing the Three Masters over to Hashiba Hideyoshi.

Therefore, no matter how dissatisfied Oda Nobutaka and Oda Nobuo were, they could only acquiesce to Hashiba Hideyoshi's proposal and let Hashiba Hidekatsu serve as the chief mourner.

Feeling refreshed, Hideyoshi Hashiba stretched in the courtyard after leaving the assessment room.

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly stepped forward and bowed in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Lord Hashiba. From now on, the Sanada family will serve you to the death!"

"Kyutaro has already drafted the petition regarding the Shinano issue (a document bearing the seal of the head of the clan), and we should have it ready later." Hideyoshi Hashiba patted Nobuyuki Sanada on the shoulder and then gestured for him to stand up.

Then, Hideyoshi Hashiba looked up at Nobuyuki Sanada and said, "Shinano is gone. Whether the Sanada family can withstand Tokugawa and Hojo depends on itself."

"Don't let me down."

Sanada Nobuyuki nodded quickly, as the main purpose of this trip to Kyoto was to resolve the issue of Shinano Province's ownership.

With the Oda clan's permission, the Sanada clan, legally speaking, now had control over Shinano.

But Sanada Nobuyuki knew in his heart that this permission was currently just an empty promise with little real power. Because the Oda clan was not yet truly unified, and the various retainers were busy vying for power, they had no time to attend to Shinano.

In other words, although Shinano nominally belonged to the Sanada clan with the Oda clan's endorsement, the Oda clan currently lacked the resources to provide protection to the Sanada clan.

If Tokugawa and Hojo ignore this permission, the Sanada family will ultimately have to rely on themselves.

"Let's not talk about that anymore, come with me." Hideyoshi Hashiba beckoned to Nobuyuki Sanada, and then led Nobuyuki through the corridor into the Oda residence in Kiyosu Castle.

The three monks had already been sent to Gifu Castle in Mino by Oda Nobutaka, so they were not afraid of what Hashiba Hideyoshi might do, and naturally no one stopped them.

Upon arriving at a small courtyard, a look of tension appeared on Hideyoshi Hashiba's face.

"Ichimatsu, where's the present?" Hideyoshi Hashiba asked anxiously, rubbing his hands together like a fly.

Fukushima Masanori, standing behind him, quickly held up a wooden box. "Here it is."

"You all wait here." After saying that, Hideyoshi Hashiba tiptoed into the courtyard carrying the wooden box.

Sanada Nobuyuki walked up to Fukushima Masanori, completely bewildered. "Fukushima-sama, what's going on with Hashiba-sama?"

"This is Lady Oichi's residence. My lord has long admired Lady Oichi, so it's only natural that he would pay her a visit during his trip to Kiyosu Castle." Fukushima Masanori had a good impression of Sanada Nobuyuki, and the two had become acquainted on their way to Kiyosu Castle.

Oops.

She was the most beautiful woman of the Warring States period, no wonder Hideyoshi Hashiba looked so guilty.

Sanada Nobuyuki immediately understood.

Oichi was Oda Nobunaga's younger sister and was once married to Azai Nagamasa, a daimyo of Omi Province. However, during the "Nobunaga Encirclement," Azai Nagamasa chose to side with his ally, the Asakura clan, and betrayed his brother-in-law, Oda Nobunaga.

After defeating the Asai family, Oichi returned to the Oda family.

Hideyoshi Hashiba had long admired Oichi, but he had never expressed his feelings due to his social status.

However, with the death of Oda Nobunaga and the rise of Hideyoshi Hashiba, some ideas naturally began to emerge.

Sanada Nobuyuki turned his gaze to the small courtyard, wanting to see what Oichi, known as the "most beautiful woman of the Sengoku period," actually looked like.

"Stop looking, Mrs. Oichi is not someone you or I can get our hands on."

"Be careful, lord, if he finds out, you'll be in big trouble." Fukushima Masanori quickly pulled Sanada Nobuyuki aside, and then told Sanada Nobuyuki about Hashiba Hideyoshi's various pursuits of Oichi.

Nobuyuki Sanada immediately became a bystander, quietly listening to Masanori Fukushima boast.

Not long after, Hideyoshi Hashiba came out with a dark expression.

He was still carrying the wooden box containing the gift.

Fukushima Masanori was already used to this, and quickly asked, "My lord, did Lady Oichi confiscate it again?"

"Here you go!" Hideyoshi Hashiba tossed the wooden box to Masanori Fukushima in a huff and walked away without looking back.

Nobuyuki Sanada and Masanori Fukushima quickly gave chase.

No sooner had the three left than Oda Nobuo and Oda Nobutaka emerged from the corner.

“My aunt has a special status, and Hideyoshi’s prestige is growing stronger. If he marries my aunt, he will be completely unable to control her,” Oda Nobuo said with a worried expression.

“Don’t worry, Aunt wouldn’t even look at that monkey.” Oda Nobutaka suppressed a laugh, then looked at Oda Nobuo and said, “The other day, Shibata Katsuie (Shibata Katsuie, rank 5th, lower) also expressed his desire to marry Aunt. How about…”

"You mean you're going to marry your aunt to Shibata?"

“Shibata has a terrible relationship with that monkey. If we can win Shibata over to our side, then our strength will surpass that of Hideyoshi,” Oda Nobutaka said slowly.

Oda Nobuo nodded. "But what if my aunt doesn't want to?"

“My aunt will agree for the sake of the Oda family,” Oda Nobutaka said confidently.

Oda Nobuo remained silent. He had married Oichi into Omi in order to win over the Asai family.

Now, in order to win over Shibata, she has no choice but to marry into Echizen.

The women of the Oda family have such a hard life.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Oda Nobuo asked, "When will the Three Masters return?"

Oda Nobutaka's expression was somewhat unnatural, and he said vaguely, "Let's wait two more days. I heard that the Third Master is not feeling well. Let's talk about it after he recovers."

After saying this, Oda Nobutaka made an excuse and left.

Watching Oda Nobutaka's retreating figure, Oda Nobuo's expression darkened, and his right hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.

After obtaining a letter of permission from Hori Hidemasa bearing the Oda family's "Unification of the Realm by Force" seal, Sanada Nobuyuki bid farewell to Hashiba Hideyoshi.

"Lord Hashiba, Shinano is still in the midst of war, so it is not convenient for me to stay any longer. I shall prepare to return to Shinano."

Hideyoshi Hashiba was in a bad mood at the moment and didn't intend to say anything more to Nobuyuki Sanada. He waved his hand to indicate that he understood.

Then Hideyoshi Hashiba walked alone to a tree and sat there lost in thought. Nobuyuki Sanada nodded to Masanori Fukushima, then turned and left Kiyosu Castle.

Outside Kiyosu Castle, Sanada Nobuyuki found Kasuga no Yoshitada and the others who had been waiting for him.

"Let's go back to Shinano!"

With the goods in hand, Nobuyuki Sanada's face beamed with a smile.

The accompanying retainers also knew what the mission was, and seeing Sanada Nobuyuki's expression, they all understood that the matter was settled.

The thought that the Sanada family was about to transform from a local lord into a proper daimyo filled everyone with joy.

However, Nobuyuki Sanada was not so optimistic.

Obtaining the Oda clan's permission was only the first step, and although the Sanada clan's status was acknowledged, the other vassals of Shinano remained subordinates of the Oda clan.

In other words, apart from the Sanada family, the "organizational affiliation" of the other Shinano vassals was still with the Oda family, only temporarily attached to the Sanada family as support.

Only when the organizational affiliation of these people is changed from the Oda clan to the Sanada clan can it be considered that these people have been truly enslaved.

The task is arduous and the road ahead is long.

Not long after leaving Kiyosu Castle, Sanada Nobuyuki and his group stopped on the road.

The road is blocked.

This was a riverside spot, where a sedan chair was parked at the bridgehead, blocking the road. Several attendants carrying the sedan chair were leaning against it, fanning themselves with straw hats.

Before Sanada Nobuyuki could speak, Kasuga no Yoshitada had already stepped forward to greet him.

"Gentlemen, could you please move the sedan chair to the side so that we can pass first?"

Those who could ride in a sedan chair were naturally not ordinary people. Being unfamiliar with Owari, Kasuga no Mototada did not want to cause trouble, so he was very polite.

Unexpectedly, the other party did not seem to appreciate it. One of the leading men even said directly, "This is the young lady of the Oda family. Either wait here or go around from that side."

Seeing the other party's tough tone, Kasuga no Yoshitada couldn't figure out who they were, so he could only return to ask Sanada Nobuyuki for instructions.

Sanada Nobuyuki kicked his horse's belly and slowly approached, only reining in his horse when he was a few steps away from the other party. "We have urgent business to attend to and need to pass through urgently. Please make way for us."

However, even when Nobuyuki Sanada intervened, the other party remained unmoved.

This infuriated Sanada Nobuyuki. Even if you're a princess of the Oda clan, you're still just a servant, not even a samurai. What gives you the right to speak like that?

Just as Sanada Nobuyuki was about to lose his temper, the curtain of the sedan chair was slightly lifted, and a pleasant female voice came from inside.

"My lord, my folding fan has just fallen into the river. The servants are retrieving it. Please wait a moment."

Sanada Nobuyuki turned his head to look at the source of the sound, and his anger immediately subsided.

To be honest, Sanada Nobuyuki has seen many beautiful women, but it's rare to find one who can make him stand up with just a glance.

Judging from the voice, the person seemed to be quite young. It was a pity that the sedan curtain wasn't lifted wide enough to see their face clearly.

"Yojuro!"

"Go help!" Nobuyuki Sanada pointed to the bottom of the bridge.

Kasuga no Yoshitada hurriedly called to Mochizuki Masayori and the others to run quickly to the riverbank.

Before long, Kasugamoto's voice rang out from under the bridge, "Found him!"

Soon, Kasuga no Yoshitada ran over with a folding fan in his hands and handed it to Sanada no Nobuyuki.

Sanada Nobuyuki took the folding fan; the fan surface was already wet with water, and many of the characters were blurred.

"Miss, the folding fan has been found. Please keep it safe." Sanada Nobuyuki handed over the folding fan, and a servant quickly took it and walked to the sedan chair.

Then, a slender little hand reached out from the sedan chair and quickly took the folding fan inside.

"This folding fan is of great significance to me, thank you very much."

"I will have the servants make way," a melodious voice, like that of a nightingale, came from the sedan chair, captivating the heart.

Soon, the sedan chair set off, and the bridge surface was restored.

The sedan chair brushed past Sanada Nobuyuki, and after they passed each other, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and a pair of eyes secretly observed Sanada Nobuyuki's back.
What happened just now was nothing more than a minor incident, and Sanada Nobuyuki and the others did not dare to linger.

The group was eager to return home and soon entered Mino-Karu District. Further east of Karu District is Ena District, and beyond Ena District lies Shinano.

"My lord, something seems amiss ahead."

Just as Sanada Nobuyuki and the others were chatting and laughing, Nezu Masatsuna and Nezu Yukinao rode over on horseback.

Sanada Nobuyuki immediately reined in his horse. "What happened?"

"It seems a battle is breaking out ahead. Should we take a detour?" asked Masatsune Nezu.

Sanada Nobuyuki was puzzled, "Where is Totomi no Kami (Mochizuki Masayori)?"

"Tōtōmi Morimasa continues his exploration."

Nobuyuki Sanada nodded, gestured for everyone to dismount, and then walked to the roadside.

"No rush, let's wait for Yuanjiang Shou to return and check the situation first."

"I'm a little hungry. Yojuro, what about the sesame seed cakes you bought in Kiyosu Castle?"

"Quick, bring two over and let us try them."

　Sao-mochi: also known as wagashi. It is made by steaming glutinous rice, mashing it, kneading it into round cakes, and wrapping it with red bean paste. It is a type of tea snack and has a savory flavor.

　　After Nanban merchants arrived in Japan, with the large-scale import of sugar, the rice cakes gradually became sweet and later developed into peony rice cakes.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)