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

Chapter 68 War is inevitable!

Shinano, Sanada-kan.

Ashida Nobuhan hurriedly ran into the building, but after searching around the Sanada building, he still couldn't find Sanada Masayuki.

Without realizing it, he bumped into a maid from the Sanada family.

"Where is our lord?"

"Where is our lord?"

The maid was stunned, but she still subconsciously pointed outside the Sanada Mansion.

Ashida Nobuhan didn't care about anything else and ran outside as fast as he could.

At that moment, Masayuki Sanada was riding a horse around in the fields.

This year's weather has been good, making it a bumper harvest year. Masayuki Sanada estimates that the grain yield in the fields will increase by at least 20% compared to previous years.

Along the way, farmers would often kneel on the ridges of the fields to pay their respects to Masayuki Sanada, who would respond with a smile.

"Lord!"

"Lord!"

At that moment, Ashida Nobuhan's urgent voice rang out from behind, and Sanada Masayuki also stopped immediately.

Ashida Nobuban rushed to Sanada Masayuki's side and said breathlessly, "My lord, the Kita-Hojo clan has retreated."

"When did this happen?"

Sanada Masayuki's expression changed. Once the Hojo army withdrew, it meant that the war in Kai was over.

The most crucial question is why the Hojo clan withdrew their troops.

"Did the Tokugawa clan win?"

Ashida Nobuhan shook his head vigorously, then continued, "Just yesterday, Tokugawa and Hojo suddenly made peace."

"I heard that the Oda clan mediated the conflict themselves, and the two sides have now ceased hostilities."

"Let's go back to the city!"

Sanada Masayuki immediately turned his horse around and galloped towards Sanada House. Ashida Nobuhan, who had just caught his breath and hadn't recovered yet, could only grit his teeth and continue to follow.

Upon returning to his residence, Sanada Masayuki immediately summoned Sasuke.

"If we set off for Numata Castle now, how long will it take to get there?" Sanada Masayuki asked, while writing something with a brush and looking down.

Sasuke thought for a moment, then replied, "Two days."

"One day!" Sanada Masayuki put down his pen, folded the letter he had just written, and handed it to Sasuke. "It must be delivered within one day."

Sasuke didn't say anything, calmly accepted the letter, and then left the Sanada residence.

At this moment, Ashida Nobuhan also rushed back.

"Hitachi no Suke, return to Komoro Castle immediately. In addition to keeping an eye on the Hojo clan's retreat route, also keep a close watch on the Tokugawa clan's movements."

"Report this immediately if the Tokugawa clan shows any sign of bypassing Wakamiko and entering Saku District."

"what!"

Ashida Nobuban was too busy to speak, but he couldn't help but mentally complain. "Seriously, at least let me have a drink of water and catch my breath!"

Sanada Masayuki stood up and stood on the map of Shinano behind him, quickly scanning it before finally fixing his gaze on a spot in the middle of the map.

After a moment of silence, Sanada Masayuki turned and left the house, walking to a row of houses outside the Sanada-kan.

When they reached the third room, Masayuki Sanada stopped.

After standing there for a long time, Sanada Masayuki pushed open the door.

Hearing the noise from inside the house, Suwa Yoritada quickly looked towards the door. Upon seeing that it was Sanada Masayuki, he quickly turned his head to face the wall.

A picture of Suwa Daimyojin hangs on the wall, and Suwa Yoriichi is devoutly praying about something.

Sanada Masayuki didn't speak, but quietly sat down cross-legged next to Suwa Yoritada.

Fifteen minutes later, Suwa Yoritada slowly opened his eyes.

"It's been a month. Awa no Kami is really patient."

Sanada Masayuki replied in a low voice, "I've come several times, but Lord Suwa has been avoiding me all along, hasn't he?" "Hmph!"

“Your Sanada family disguised yourselves as a merchant caravan to deceive and launch a surprise attack on Uehara Castle. How can I not be dissatisfied with such a breach of trust?” Suwa Yoritada was confident in his words.

As the head priest of Suwa Taisha Shrine, the Suwa family had always been treated with respect by the other daimyo and kokujin of Shinano, except for the massacre they suffered at the hands of Takeda Shingen.

"Lord Suwa, let's not beat around the bush."

"What will it take for you to serve our family?"

Suwa Yoritada remained silent, simply watching Sanada Masayuki.

Sanada Masayuki seemed to understand something, so he immediately took a step back and said solemnly, "Lord Kotaro can be returned to the Suwa family, as long as Lord Suwa can put aside past grievances."

In fact, several years ago, Suwa Yoritada had already handed over the position of Suwa Daisuke to his eldest son, Kotaro, who was only six years old.

When Uehara Castle was captured, Kotaro and Suwa Yoritada were taken prisoner together.

Sanada Masayuki thought that controlling Kotaro would make Suwa Yoritada submit, but Suwa Yoritada didn't expect that Sanada Masayuki would not buy into his scheme at all and acted extremely tough.

"It seems that Awa no Kami is in trouble." Seeing that Sanada Masayuki had finally relented, Suwa Yoritada also lowered his guard.

Sanada Masayuki sighed, "As expected of Aki no Kami, he has indeed encountered a difficult situation."

“Two conditions.” Suwa Yoritada held up two fingers. “If Awa no Kami agrees to our two conditions, my Suwa clan is willing to obey the orders of the Sanada clan.”

“First.” Before Sanada Masayuki could reply, Suwa Yoritada began to state his conditions directly, “Awa no Kami must write a petition to guarantee the safety of my Suwa clan.”

"Secondly, the governor of Awa is engaged in a marriage alliance with our family. My son is not yet married. I wonder if the governor of Awa has any eligible daughters waiting to be married?"

Sanada Masayuki nodded. "The marriage proposal will be written immediately. As for the marriage alliance, what do you think of my fifth daughter, Tsubaki?"

"You should have done this earlier. I've been fed mosquitoes here for so many days." Suwa Yoritsu patted his butt and stood up.

The Suwa family was nearly wiped out by Takeda Shingen after being defeated by him decades ago.

During the Koshu campaign this year, the head of the Suwa clan was Suwa Yoritoyo, the elder brother of Suwa Yoritada. Because he refused to surrender to the Oda clan, he was captured by the Oda clan in the Battle of Torii Pass and subsequently executed.

The Suwa Shrine was also burned down by the Oda clan.

What Suwa Yoritada cares about most right now is that the Suwa family name must not be lost. Since Sanada Masayuki is willing to make a promise, Suwa Yoritada will not have any intention of resisting.

As long as the Sanada family continues to acknowledge the Suwa clan's identity, things will be fine.

"What about the main family's territory?"

Sanada Masayuki replied without hesitation, "Andu."

"The petition and the application should be submitted together to Governor Anki."

Suwa Yoritada nodded in satisfaction, instantly feeling that the hardships he had endured over the past few days had not been in vain.

Having dealt with Suwa Yoritada, Sanada Masayuki immediately began mobilizing his troops to gather at Uehara Castle.

Although the Tokugawa clan would not launch an attack immediately, Sanada Masayuki dared not gamble on whether the Tokugawa clan would attack prematurely.

At the same time, mobilization orders to gather troops were sent to various parts of Shinano like snowflakes.

Upon receiving the order, the retainers of the Sanada family and the local lords of Shinano immediately began to take action.

The shadow of war once again loomed over Shinano.

October 20th, the tenth year of Tianzheng.

Itabe no Oka Esetsai entered the gates of Toishi Castle for the second time. This time, he came on behalf of the Hojo family to settle scores with the Sanada family.

Upon meeting, Itabe Okae Sessai immediately demanded that the Sanada family cede Numata Castle and Iwato Castle in Ueno.

Itabe Oka Esetsai's attitude was very firm: if the Sanada family didn't give it to them, then the Hojo family would come and take it themselves.

However, at that time, the Sanada family would be facing tens of thousands of troops from the Hojo family.

Sanada Masayuki naturally refused to agree to this request, and the two parted on bad terms.

Meanwhile, in Kasugayama Castle in Echigo, Sanada Nobuyoshi and his nephew Sanada Nobushige also found Uesugi Kagekatsu.

A new round of competition will unfold between Sanada, Uesugi, Hojo, and Tokugawa.

A major war seems inevitable.

(End of this chapter)